German import Poetic Dream will wear the blinkers for the first time when he kicks off his 2018 Spring Carnival Campaign in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Voodoo Lad, above, is one of three Darren Weir trained runners in the 2018 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Poetic Dream will be having his second Australian start for the Lindsay Park Racing Team of David  and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig and has drawn barrier nine in the ten horse Aurie’s Star Handicap.

The five year old import was beaten just over a length at his only start on Australian soil when fifth to Nozomi in the Group 3 $150,000 Autumn Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on March 3 but surprised the stable when he blitzed his opposition in a recent Flemington jump out with the blinkers on.

Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes said on that performance it was decided that Poetic Dream would wear the blinkers in the Aurie’s Star Handicap.

“He looks to be going really well. He has had three trials leading into this,” Ben Hayes said.

“In particular his trial here at Flemington, which was his middle trial with the blinkers on he really flew and we just trialled him down the straight last week without the blinkers on, he went well but not as well as with the blinkers.”

“He is a horse that improves a lot when the blinkers are applied so we are going to apply the blinkers for the Aurie’s Star and have him nice and fresh for the race.”

Jordan Childs takes the mount on Poetic Dream whose only two wins in Germany have been over 1400m and 1600m but Hayes expect him to run well over 1200m doen the Flemington straight eith the blinkers.

“All his form in Europe is over a mile. He is a Guineas winner over there so 1200m could be a bit short but from what we have seen with the blinkers on we are thinking maybe he could sprint well while fresh,” Hayes said.

“His main goal is the Toorak and on the way through he could run in the Rupert Clarke or something like that.”

“Once we get him up over a distance we will take them off which will help him settle.”

Leading trainer Darren Weir will saddle up three runners in the Aurie’s Star Handicap, the back in form Voodoo Lad (barrier 7), last start Flemington winner Camdus (barrier 1) and Man From Uncle (Barrier 3).

English import Home Of The Brave will be having his first outing for trainer James Cummings and has performed well in the lead up to his initial Australian start with a win and a second in two recent barrier trials at Rosehill and Randwick.

Home Of The Brave has drawn barrier 2 with Damian Lane to ride.

The Snowden Racing Team of Peter and Paul Snowden are testing the waters with Brave Song who is stepping up to the Group 3 company in the Aurie’s Star Handicap after winning an 1100m Handicap down the Flemington straight on July 21.

Regan Bayliss will ride Brave Song who has drawn barrier eight for the scamper down th Flemington straight.

Final field for the 2018 Aurie’s Star Handicap