Trainer Tony McEvoy has opted for the combination of ear muffs and winkers in a bid to try to help Sunlight’s younger sibling Sisstar deliver on a long-range target in the inaugural $1 million The Showdown at Caulfield.
Sisstar, younger sister to multiple Group One winning stablemate Sunlight, is yet to win from three starts but heads into Saturday’s The Showdown (1200m) off a stakes placing in Adelaide in the second start of her current preparation and McEvoy believes she is a genuine winning chance.
The Showdown is restricted to two-year-olds by Victorian-based stallions nominated to the VOBIS Sires Race Series, and McEvoy pinpointed the lucrative race for Sisstar after her fourth placing on debut in a Group Three race in wet conditions at Flemington.
The decision to target The Showdown allowed connections of the $600,000 yearling to give her more time after the spring to strengthen and mature physically.
McEvoy said Sisstar was not as big and strong as her illustrious sister.
“She just did not need to be pushed for those earlier races and this allowed us to give her more time,” McEvoy said.
“I was really pleased with her last start in Adelaide and she has come on from that.
“She has improved and she has drawn ideally. She’s ready to go so I think she will run a really competitive race.”
Sisstar wore winkers on debut last spring but has not had them on in two starts this preparation.
After Sisstar faded to finish 10th in the VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo first-up last month, McEvoy applied ear muffs to the filly when she finished third in the Dequetteville Stakes (1050m) in Adelaide.
Sisstar will wear ear muffs and also winkers in The Showdown.
“She over-raced badly at Bendigo and didn’t breathe and ran poorly,” McEvoy said.
“We put the ear muffs on the other day and (jockey) Jason Holder said she was going to win on the turn and she just wandered in the straight and she got lost, so the winkers are there to keep her focused in the straight.
“The ear muffs will do the job in the first half and the winkers will help her in the second half.”
Sisstar, to be ridden by Luke Currie, was at $26 on race eve with impressive VOBIS Gold Rush winner Prince Of Sussex the $2.90 favourite.
