Talented mare Victoire will race in blinkers for the first time when representing her province in the $30,000 Interprovincial Invitation (1600m) on her home track at Pukekura Raceway in New Plymouth tomorrow.
Trainer and part-owner Warren Bolton has decided to take the advice of leading rider Michael Walker in trying Victoire in the headgear.
Victoire ran on well late from a midfield position for fourth last start in the group three Fayette Park Stakes on October 14.
Bolton said the Paris Opera five-year-old was unlucky not to finish second behind runaway winner Verlei at Hawera.
"Michael said she was reluctant to take a gap in the straight and he seems to think blinkers will help her," Bolton said.
Victoire has been worked in blinkers several times in the past fortnight.
Bolton was satisfied with the outcome and was also quietly confident about the mare's chance in Saturday's Interprovincial Invitation for class three horses.
"She's eating everything I give her and seems happy in herself. It's a very strong field that she's up against, but I think she'll go okay."
Victoire has not won since she was successful in a sprint at Woodville last January.
In seven starts since that success she has raced a number of times against premier company.
Therefore the 1999 Fayette Park Stakes winner is sure to appreciate the drop back in class she will strike on Saturday.
Victoire has drawn wide at barrier 17 so will benefit from the unique weight relief conditions of the race.
The Taranaki Racing Club (TRC) is trialing the scheme which allows horses drawn outside weight allowances ranging from half a kilogram to two kilograms for horses that have drawn outside barrier seven.
It is designed to give owners and trainers of horses drawn wide a incentive to start, said TRC manager Carey Hobbs, who, along with leading trainer John Wheeler, came up the weight relief idea.
Under the scheme and providing a capacity field goes to the post, Victoire will get a 2kg allowance bringing the weight she has to carry down to 52kg.
The hardest for Victoire to beat on Saturday could be another talented mare. The Wanganui-trained Saint Cecile is favourite and paying $5.50c to win on the TAB's fixed odds betting market on the race.
She bounced back to winning form in style last start at Trentham on October 21 after disappointing in the Fayette Park Stakes at Hawera.
Trainer Nigel Auret had an excuse for the Fayette Park Stakes failure.
"I'm not quite sure what happened there (Hawera) but she was a little bit sore for a couple of days after the race. There was no obvious signs of what was wrong, but she may have have twinged a muscle or something like that."
Whatever it was Saint Cecile showed she was back to her best when leading all the way over 1500m at Trentham.
Auret said the Pompeii Court mare and winner two starts back on the New Plymouth track had trained on well since Trentham.
- NZPA
Racing: Blinkers may help Taranaki mare
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