Trainer Desleigh Forster is hoping winkers will help overcome some worrying concerns with Easy Running when the three-year-old makes his comeback in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Forster picked up on a bad trait Easy Running was developing last campaign when he appeared to “float” once he got to the lead in his races.
“He normally races in blinkers but a couple of times I noticed he seemed to float when he got to the front,” Forster said.
“When he’s got the blinkers on he doesn’t see them coming but hopefully the winkers might make a difference and he’ll see them out of the corner of his eye.
“He’s never worn winkers in a race before but he’s been going well with them on in trackwork.”
Forster hopes a strong performance from Easy Running in the 1000-metre feature will resolve which path to take for the Brisbane winter carnival.
The son of Easy Rocking hasn’t started since his narrow defeat by Punch On in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.
Easy Running has won three of his 11 starts but his record could have been better if he had converted some of his five placings into victories.
Forster is hoping for a big winter with her stable star Adebisi, a sizzling winner of the Listed Bribie Handicap last week, but she’s also aiming high with Easy Running.
“Easy Running is doing everything right so far,” Forster said.
“He’s been in work 10 weeks and he went well in an exhibition gallop last week when he hit the line strongly.”
Forster has pencilled in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 5 and the Group Three Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 19 as Easy Running’s next assignments.
At this stage, Forster is aiming Easy Running at the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2 but that could change if his form warrants it.
“He’s taking the three-year-old path during the winter and we’re looking at the Queensland Guineas,” she said.
“But if his form is good enough and he looks like he could get a run in the Stradbroke, he’ll go that way.”
The Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Forster is reluctant to compare Easy Running with Adebisi and hasn’t worked the pair together in trackwork.
“There’s been no need to work them together as they’re both good workers by themselves,” she said.
“But Easy Running is bombproof.
“He can handle wet or dry tracks, he can lead and he can come from behind. Nothing bothers him.”
Easy Running is part-owned by Tony Havig who has raced many horses.
Havig is currently experiencing one of his best times as an owner as he is also a co-owner in Kelly Schweida’s talented sprinter Cape Kidnappers and Ready To Rip who has been transferred to Peter Moody in Melbourne.
