Trainer Paul Duncan is counting on the addition of blinkers to help sharpened up Blue Lion when he steps out in the Listed $175,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Blue Lion. above, will wear the blinkers in the Bernborough Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Blue Lion is lining up for his fourth run this campaign and even though Duncan feels he is looking for 2000m, thought that by putting the blinkers back on will keep him competitive over the Doomben Mile.
“He won an 1800 metre race in Singapore with them on,” Duncan told Racenet.
“Because I couldn’t find the right race over 2000m I thought now’s the time to put the blinkers back on.
“Hopefully they will sharpen him up enough to keep him in touch and not get too far off Traveston Girl.”
“He’s well heading into Saturday but looking forward I can’t wait to find a suitable race to try him over 2000 metres.”
Blue Lion has done a tremendous job for the Sunshine Coast trainer since he joined his stable and recorded two wins at the start of this preparation.
The Zabeel seven year old scored a first up win on his home track in a 1400m Class 5 Handicap on October 4 and then made it back to back wins in a 1615m Open Handicap at Doomben on October 31.
Then at his latest outing chased home Bernborough Handicap rivals Traveston Girl and Shotover River in the Listed $100,000 Tattersall’s Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Doomben three weeks later.
Blue Lion started his racing career in Victoria in 2012 with a win in a Seymour Maiden before heading to Singapore where he recorded three wins from sixteen starts.
Apprentice Luke Tarrant has retained the ride on Blue Lion who has drawn nicely at barrier six in the fourteen horse field.
In early betting for the Bernborough Handicap Blue Lion has firmed in from $16 to $14 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The top of the market order is very congested with the Robert Heathcote trained Hopfgarten holding down favouritism at $4.80 just ahead of Tony Gollan’s in-form mare Traveston Girl at $5 and Worthy Cause at $5.50.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Role Model is also well in contention at $6.
Bernborough Handicap market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Hopfgarten, $5 Traveston Girl, $5.50 Worthy Cause, $6 Role Model, $9 Centre Pivot, $13 Shotover River, $14 Blue Lion, $15 Lordag, $17 Feltre, $21 Bewhatyouwannabe, $26 Top Tone, $51 Victory Hotel, $61 Anna Lizzie, Trakstar.
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