Blinkers go on Vestas in the 2025 Doveton Stakes
After watching Vestas complete a piece of work at Caulfield, trainer Clinton McDonald jokingly asked whether anyone could organise a wide draw for the mare.
Unfortunately for him, she has instead come up with barrier two for Saturday’s Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m), but McDonald is banking on blinkers to help refocus the lightly raced four-year-old.
McDonald took Vestas to Caulfield on Tuesday to trial the blinkers after being left disappointed by her latest run over 1200 metres on November 15.
“The other day I didn’t think she tried one yard,” McDonald said of the reasoning behind the gear change.
“She was disappointing and we’ve got to try something different with her.
“She’s a temperamental mare, and a bit like Cinderella, she needs everything perfect and being a racehorse, you don’t always get that.
“She’s got to build our trust back, but her work on Tuesday morning was solid, and the proof will be in the pudding on race day.”
Though still lightly raced with only one win and two placings from eight starts, McDonald remains confident Vestas has Black Type potential.
She broke her maiden at Cranbourne before running second in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Since then, inconsistency has made her a tricky mare to manage.
“She’s going to lose a lot more than she wins because of her racing pattern and that’s because of the way you’ve got to ride her,” McDonald said.
“She doesn’t like being inside horses. She’s not a stable favourite at the moment, I can assure you, but all we can do is try new things.
“We can’t fault her condition, her action is good and she’s eating well.
“She’s a very good mare on her day. She’s got a great turn of foot and she’s a Black Type mare.
“We’ve got to remember too that she’s very lightly raced.
“She’s a four-year-old mare that’s had eight starts, she’s still got to learn how to race and maybe it’s now time to put the blinkers and see if that makes a difference for her.”
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