Helmet has provided a couple of heart stopping moments for jockey and audience alike
Peter Snowden knows and trusts Kerrin McEvoy enough to not give him too many orders on race day.
The pair have built a dominant partnership and the mutual understanding they share is usually more than enough to produce the best from their horses.
When McEvoy takes the ride of Helmet in the Run To The Rose this Saturday once again there won’t be much said, however there will be one exception, don’t use the whip!
While he may have claimed two Group 1’s in his juvenile season Helmet has been far from the perfect racecourse.
He’s been scratched from the stalls before the race and in running he’s provided a couple of heart stopping moments for jockey and audience alike.
Twice in fact the colt has veered wildly down the home straight and only the fact he’s been so far ahead of his rivals has meant no damage was done.
On both occasions however it was the whip that caused the issue so Darley are hopeful by simply putting it away there will be no more problems.
“Look, he’s had a trial and went dead straight,” Snowden said.
“There’s nothing he does at home that suggests he’s going to do anything risky.
“The only thing it comes down to is the whip. Twice he was given a cut with it and twice he hated it.
“I won’t be giving Kerrin any instructions on Saturday, he knows the horse. But I can tell you one thing, he’ll be riding him hands and heels. The horse always tries his best. He won’t have to be hit with the whip to do his best.”
Helmet finished fourth in his trial behind Secret Admirer and while he certainly has the ability to win on Saturday, Snowden is cautious about his prospects.
He is wary of Smart Missile, the unbeaten colt with claims as the only horse to ever defeat Sepoy.
Snowden says not only is Helmet not anywhere near fully fit for this race, he’ll also be far better suited as the distances wind out later in the spring.
“It might look like a grand final because it’s an exciting-looking clash, but this race is a long way off Helmet’s grand final,” he said.
“He’ll run a good race because he’s a pretty smart colt, but his grand final is the Caulfield Guineas.”
