Blinkers bring Plymouth back to winners' circle at Caulfield
Co-trainer Ben Hayes from Lindsay Park attributes Plymouth's resurgence to victory at Caulfield to the use of blinkers.
The horse under the care of Ben, Will and J D Hayes grabbed his first triumph post the Benalla Cup from last September via success in the Lamaro's After The Last Handicap (2000m) on Saturday.
Jamie Mott aboard Plymouth ($7.50) delivered a three-quarter length margin ahead of Howlin' Rain ($13), with Brayden Star ($51) trailing by half a length for third.
According to Ben Hayes, the Lindsay Park crew had patiently awaited the perfect occasion to reintroduce blinkers to Plymouth, after he had utilised winkers.
Plymouth placed 12th in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield in April, before securing third in a benchmark 1000 race mirroring Saturday's circumstances.
"We just felt last start at Flemington that he probably hit the front early and peaked on his run." Hayes said.
"He had been relaxing so well all prep after we had been wanting him to relax, that we had put the blinkers on him.
"Back in trip, the blinkers went on today and it was a ten-out-of-ten ride from Jamie.
"He had been running really well, and it was well-deserved."
The strategy outlined by Hayes involved going forward on Plymouth to foster some self-belief from the weekend's result.
One pre-race doubt for the Lindsay Park team was Plymouth managing the Soft 7 ground.
"After today I think we'll stick him at 2000 (metres) and keep the blinkers fitted, as he gained those vital couple of lengths," Hayes said.
"He's lightly exposed on wet tracks, and that was a question mark, the Soft 7. I thought he did a good job handling that, so it's all very good going into winter."
Future plans are up for discussion among Hayes and his brothers.
A journey northward to Brisbane is still on the table.
"I was thinking about that, but I'll need to talk to my brothers, or we could stay here and win another one of these types of races," Hayes said.
"But I know the owners don't mind a trip."
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