By Ray Hickson
Jockey Aaron Bullock has backed trainer Paul Messara’s decision to apply blinkers to Know Thyself to give the promising galloper an extra edge in Sunday’s $150,000 Evergreen Turf Hunter & North West Country Championships (1400m) at Tamworth.
Feedback from Know Thyself’s trackwork rider and Bullock’s comments after his trials led Messara to add the shades to ensure the four-year-old is focused for a race he’s been aimed squarely at for more than six months.
Co-trainer Leah Gavranich with Know Thyself.Credit: Getty Images
Bullock and Messara combined in 2023 to win the race with Akasawa but it’s clear the popular hoop has a higher opinion of the lightly raced Know Thyself.
“He’s a very good horse, you can see what he’s done,” Bullock said.
“I expect him to run top three, we’re just going to need a bit of luck from that draw.
“He’ll handle any conditions, that’s an asset he’s got. If these blinkers fire him up a bit he’ll give them a good shake.”
Know Thyself hasn’t raced since he ran third in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast in mid-July but he’s had three barrier trials to be ready for the 1400m fresh.
While he’s sure the blinkers will be a plus, Bullock said he’s otherwise seen nothing wrong with any of his hit-outs.
“I don’t feel he’s been as sharp for mine in his trials,” he said.
“His trials have still been great, we’ve had the E-Trakka on him and he’s still been running 32 and 33 on the days it has been firm.
“Sometimes you can be a bit hard on horses because they don’t win their trials but I still feel his trials have been very good.”
The gelding is a $6 chance in TAB’s market on the $1m Evergreen Turf Country Championships.
Bullock, who has ridden Know Thyself three times for three wins, said he will need some luck from a wide barrier but is confident he’s good enough to overcome it.
“He’s off a long spell, and his breeding suggests he’ll get 2000m so we’ve elected to go into this first-up at 1400m,” he said.
“I’ve got no doubt once he gets into a nice rhythm at 1400m he’ll let rip don’t worry about it.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
