Trainer Kacy Fogden is looking to get Golden Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux back in the winner’s circle in Heritage Stakes on Saturday and believes a tinker to his gear might hold the key.
After a modest first-up effort in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and then a runner-up finish in the Run To The Rose (1200m), the decision was made to drop him back to 1100m this week rather than stick to the Golden Rose path.
Best of Bordeaux will wear visors as he looks to get back winning in the Heritage Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit:Getty
The listed event has built a reputation in the past couple of years of being a race for future group 1 winners, as evidenced by Home Affairs and Wild Ruler in the past two runnings.
Best Of Bordeaux will have to carry a group 2 penalty from his Silver Slipper win in the autumn and is at the top of the weights, which is a little concern for Fogden.
“It is a quite a bit of weight for him to carry, but he has earned it,” Fogden said. “It looks like it will be wet, so he will need to be at the top of his game, but he is ready to go.
“He has always had the blinkers, but he seems to float a little in them, and it takes until a horse goes past him for him to surge again.
“So we decided to go for the visors, which will allow to him see them coming a bit more.
“I think if you look at the Golden Slipper and last start in the Run To The Rose, he chased again once he saw the horse in front of him.
“He is such a competitor that I think the visors will help him a lot, particularly because he will see them coming.”
James McDonald has stuck with Best Of Bordeaux, which is the $2.50 favourite on Saturday, and victory would probably get him in Coolmore’s slot for The Everest.
Last-start Highway winner Opal Ridge has had plenty of support early in betting and is the $4.80 second pick. Scone trainer Luke Pepper is still hoping to get the final slot in The Kosciuszko with the Rubick filly.
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