Blinkers bid to spark Win O’Clock

The Cup races in Tasmania could be on the agenda for imported galloper Win O’Clock if he performs up to expectations at Caulfield.

The Matthew Williams-trained stayer is set to run in a benchmark 100 contest over 2400m on Saturday as a potential launching pad towards the Tasmanian Summer Carnival.

The Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on February 11 and the Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 28 loom as potential targets for the imported galloper.

The OTI-owned galloper won five races in the UK before being sent to Australia and the stable of John O’Shea but tweaked a tendon requiring time on the sidelines.

After doing his rehabilitation with Williams at Warrnambool, Win O’Clock returned to O’Shea and got to the trialling stage again, before suffering another minor tendon injury.

“John was pretty happy with him, but he reinjured the tendon,” Williams said.

“Both tendons have been minor, and they look really good, so there hasn’t been a lot of damage there.”

After three runs for Williams, Win O’Clock took out the Hamilton Cup (2200m) on October 14 before finishing down the track behind Interpretation in the Bendigo Cup (2400m) on November 1.

Win O’Clock has not been sighted since that Bendigo Cup performance and Williams said blinkers would be added to the gelding’s race day gear.

“There hasn’t been a really suitable race for him since Bendigo,” Williams said.

“He could have gone to that Country Cup at Caulfield, but that would have meant he would be coming back to 2000 metres which probably at that stage wasn’t suitable.

“We spotted this race and thought it would suit him, put the shades on him and ride him a lot more positively and put him up into the race a bit more.

“If he runs well, we may have a look at the Cups over in Tasmania, but it would be nice to win a race with him first, though.”

Williams said Dean Yendall would have the ride on Saturday.