Pat Hyland is hoping the addition of blinkers will have a positive impact for Zabeel mare Arianne.
Hyland has two horses entered for Wednesday’s Sandown meeting which will start earlier than usual because of predicted hot weather.
As well as Arianne, Hyland also has Stony Creek winner Lake Como stepping up to city grade for the first time.
Arianne, a winner of two of her 12 starts, was a closing second at Sandown against her own sex two starts ago before finishing three lengths behind Yulong Baby when unplaced at Caulfield over 2000m in a fillies and mares race on Boxing Day.
“She’s a staying mare and she’s got blinkers on for the first time,” Hyland said.
“Most Zabeel horses find another leg with blinkers, so I hope they’re right.
“Naturally being a Zabeel she has taken quite a while but she’s just about ready to hit her straps I think.”
Lake Como won by 3-1/2 lengths in a fillies maiden on debut at Stony Creek and Hyland said he would have liked to have gone into a fillies race but the trainer said there wasn’t a suitable option.
“You’ve got to run them somewhere when you’ve got them fit and well.”
Apprentice Brandon Stockdale, who rode the filly to her debut win in the bush, retains the ride and claims 3kg.
“She only won at Stony Creek but she had won a trial prior to that, albeit at Stony Creek as well,” Hyland said.
“She’s been quite impressive. This is a big step but I think with the claim it equals her up a little bit with the older horses, so I think she’s going to run very well.”
The Sandown meeting will start at 10.40am, two hours earlier than originally scheduled because of predicted hot weather.
Having brought the meeting forward to start at 11.40am, Racing Victoria announced on Tuesday the meeting would start earlier.
