It’s easy to understand the temptation Kelso Wood had to add blinkers to Sizzling’s gear ahead of this weekend’s Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.
The horse is easily the quickest over the home straight and it’s only a matter of how far back he is that will determine whether or not he wins.
It was this lack of early speed that cost him last start in the BJ McLachlan Stakes when second to Driefontein and something that could prove costly in a big field on Saturday.
Despite this Wood has opted against the hood declaring it too big a risk for a horse travelling so well.
He’d much rather risk jagging a good gate and pulling up midfield than the horse potentially blunting his finish after over racing early.
This call was made after consultation with rider Chris Munce who urged against such a drastic move so close to the race.
”I certainly put some weight on what Chris recommended,” Wood said.
”There were several factors why I didn’t roll the dice…I’m not a fan of experimenting so close to a big race.”
Wood does have some precedent as well given that he worked Sizzling in winkers during trackwork and even then he got a little bit keen.
“That would have been the danger with blinkers as well, it might have fired him up too much,” he said.
”The colt is going so well I didn’t really want to change anything. He races truly between horses so the blinkers weren’t something to help him around other horses.
“The only issue is making sure he doesn’t get a mile back and have an impossible task to catch the leaders.”
Woods says the horse isn’t horrible out of the gates either, he just can’t afford to be out as wide as he was last start.
“I believe with a good barrier he can hold a spot about five to six lengths off the speed,” he said.
”If that happens and he can come home in 33 seconds again, then he is going to take some holding out.”
Sizzling worked over 800m with a partner on Saturday and Wood was thrilled with his performance.
He quickened over the final 400m coming home in 22.5sec with plenty still left in the tank.
