Trainer Lindsey Smith is weighing up advice from jockey Jarrod Fry and assistant-trainer Shane Jackson as to whether Tuvalu will resume in blinkers.
Tuvalu is set to have his first-up run in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on February 11 and Smith is toying with the idea of running the gelding in blinkers.
A winner of eight of his 14 starts with a further six placings, Fry and Jackson have both told Smith Tuvalu needs blinkers.
And Smith said Jackson had told him right from when Tuvalu won his maiden at Warrnambool in January 2021 that the gelding would be a horse better suited in blinkers, while Fry reiterated that after partnering Tuvalu in a trial victory over 1200m at Geelong on Tuesday.
“I don’t like change,” Smith told RSN.
“But Jarrod was quite adamant that he needed them (blinkers) again yesterday.
“I make decisions good or bad, as long as 70 per cent of them are OK, but if that is what the good riders are telling me, then hopefully he can find 10 per cent, so that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
“We may gallop him again on Monday or give him a soft trial at Camperdown, so I’ll discuss it with the owners and see what we do, but the Orr Stakes looks his comeback race.”
Tuvalu registered his maiden Group 1 win when taking out the Toorak Handicap (1600m) last October before splitting Alligator Blood and Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week.
Smith said the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley was a potential target while the trainer has not ruled out the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington next month a possibility.
To date Tuvalu is yet to run beyond 1600m.
“He reminds me of Scales Of Justice. He won at 2000 metres, but it was a weak race,” Smith said.
“I think 1800 metres would be the perfect trip for this horse.
“If the blinkers don’t work, then maybe it is the 2000 metres that he’s looking for but that will be unearthed in the next couple of weeks.”
