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.”
If you're planning a wager on the Doveton Stakes, make sure to check the latest odds at the best Australian betting sites.
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...