Trainer Chris Waller is hoping the addition of blinkers will help straighten out the racing manners of Tangled when he lines up in the Group 3 $150,000 IGA Liquor Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Holy Snow, above, is the pre-post favourite for the Frank Packer Plate at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Tangled wore the blinkers in May during the 2017 Brisbane Carnival without success and then Waller replaced them with the winkers during the Spring with the same result.
The Snitzel colt has raced without any head gear during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival with his best results being a second in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24 following by a third in the Group 1 $2m Harrolds Australian Derby (2400m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick a fortnight ago.
Waller said that Tangled races in patches and is hoping the blinkers going on this time will help the colt race true and give him a better chance to breakthrough for an overdue win.
“Derby placegetter, ran a terrific race. Blinkers go on,” Waller said.
“We had them on in the Spring, or at least Winkers, but it caused him to over race. But we feel the horse needs them.”
“He is running his races in snatches, sort of stop starting. If he focuses he could be winning these big races.”
“Good time to try it and he will be very hard to beat. He is not a one paced stayer. He is a compact son of Snitzel out of an Oaks winning mare.”
Michael Walker takes the ride again on Tangled who has drawn barrier five in the twelve horse Frank Packer Plate field.
Early betting for the Frank Packer Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has Tangled on the second line of betting at $5 behind the $3.40 favourite Holy Snow.
The Mick Price trained Holy Snow is stepping up to the 2000m for the first time and is coming off placings at his last two starts with a second in the Group 2 $200,000 Chandon S Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 17 followed by a third in the Group 3 $200,000 China Horse Club Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick.
