By MIKE DILLON
Bruce Marsh's devastation turned to elation at trackwork in Brisbane yesterday.
Marsh has been worried sick over the ordinary form in Australia of his Mercedes New Zealand Derby winner Hail, but the smiles rolled off his face yesterday.
In desperation, Marsh galloped Hail in blinkers for the first time in his career and was startled by the results, leading into Saturday's 2200m Qantas Club Handicap.
Marsh was bitterly disappointed when Hail produced the worst effort of his career to finish down the track in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.
"He just didn't have a race - he did nothing at all," said Marsh.
"We were running out of time to have him fit for the Derby so I tried the blinkers on him.
"From day one I said eventually he would have to wear blinkers because he is such a laid-back horse who goes to sleep in his races, so this is no surprise, but what was a surprise is just how badly he went on Saturday.
"I always knew Eagle Farm would suit him better than Doomben, but he was never travelling at the weekend.
"It could be that he has lost his confidence, but whatever it was he worked boldly this morning.
"From the time he started trotting around he was a different horse."
Hail will need to be different.
On Saturday he has been handicapped up to his best form with 58kg in the 2200m race.
An indication of the severity of the handicap is his older stablemate Paddy Maloney has to carry only 56kg, but Marsh will be happy simply to see an improved race in what will be his final trial for the Queensland Derby.
"If the blinkers don't do the trick I won't bother pressing ahead with the Derby start.
"We'll really be scratching our heads then."
Racing: Blinkers could do the trick after Doomben bomb
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