Blinkers do the trick for Rose For Trippi

Jack Milner

One often marvels at the manner in which different headgear can impact on the performance of a racehorse.

The addition of blinkers often sees an immediate improvement in the concentration of a horse and that makes the difference between winning and losing.

That certainly appears to be the case with Rose For Trippi who, although running well enough in her first four races, really improved when fitted with a set of blinkers.

The empirical evidence is there is a line of form with Mythical Dream. They first met on 27 October which Mythical Dream won by 0.75 lengths. Then a decision was taken by trainers Mike and Adam Azzie to run her in blinkers.

In her first start with them on, Rose For Trippi was slowly away but ran on powerfully to finish a 0.50-length third behind Wings Of Nike. In her next race, Rose For Trippi came up against Mythical Dream once again and they met at the same weight differential, with the latter giving her 1kg.

The transition was amazing as this time, in spite of again losing ground at the start, Rose For Trippi skipped clear to win by 3.25 lengths.

The daughter of Trippi lines up again on the Vaal Classic track on Thursday to contest Race 6, a MR 88 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. She did get a 3.5kg penalty for that last victory but one feels there is still a fair amount to go into her merit-rating tank before that fills up. S’manga Khumalo has ridden her to both of her victories and he is back on board for this event.

The main threat looks likely to come from another lightly raced filly in Lil Miss Moneybags. This Ashley Fortune-trained daughter of What A Winter has only run three times but has recorded two wins. Last time she was baulked for a run between the 400m and 200m mark but when she saw daylight, she flew up late to win going away by two lengths.

She does take a jump in class but will get 5kg from Rose For Trippi and that could prove a factor.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 16 Three Strands, 4 Allthewayfromusa, 2 Rosslyne, 13 Impersonation

Race 2: 2 Karangetang, 1 Swing Upon A Star, 3 Mescal, 4 Highest Honour

Race 3: 4 Toffas, 1 Thunderstone, 3 River Romeo, 2 Roll Over Redrover

Race 4: 1 In Cahoots, 3 Burmese Tiara, 2 Admiralty Arch, 9 Gilda Gray

Race 5: 8 Great Affair, 4 Arlington Action, 3 White Fang, 2 Out Of Your League

Race 6: 4 Rose For Trippi, 5 Lil Miss Moneybags, 6 Insatiable, 3 Big Eyed Girl

Race 7: 5 In The Ether, 7 Beaded Gown, 10 Big City Girl, 3 Prayuponastar

Race 8: 2 Meteoric, 3 Pinch Hit, 9 Back To Basics, 1 Cool Winter

BEST BET

Race 3 No 4 Toffas

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 8 Great Affair

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x2

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 2, 4, 16

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 8

Leg 6: 4, 5, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 3, 4, 8

Leg 5: 4, 5

Leg 6: 5, 7, 10

Leg 7: 1, 2, 3, 9

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 4: 4, 5, 6

Leg 5: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

JACKPOT 2

R450

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9