The Mark Walker stable has called on some extra gear in their bid to win a Group 1 race with Lara Antipova.
A cross-over nose band goes on the filly for the first time when Lara Antipova runs in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Successful over 1400m at Flemington on September 12, Lara Antipova followed that performance running fourth behind the ‘boys’ in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27.
Walker’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said the filly over-raced that day prompting the call for the cross-over nose band.
Gleeson said Lara Antipova worked solidly in the new gear in a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday and was a lot more tractable.
“She did a little bit wrong last start,” Gleeson said.
“She over travelled and it was a very slow tempo. I think they were six lengths slower than when she won at Flemington where she had a lovely run in transit.
“I know everyone was saying she had all the favours, but they ran it at a pretty strong tempo and if you look at where the leader and the second (horse) in the run finished, out the back, she stuck on pretty strongly to win.
“The tempo brought her undone the other day. I still think she ran boldly and didn’t drop out after over-travelling in the run.
“She’s blown those cobwebs out now at the mile. She’s had a nice three weeks to get over it and the colts that beat her, they were beaten by two superstars in the Caulfield Guineas last week.
“The fillies in the Guineas this week are nowhere near the colts, and we’ve put the crossover noseband on.
“She was much more tractable with it in her gallop on Tuesday and if she can do everything right in the run and travel sweetly, she’s got a chance.”
Gleeson said the trip away from Cranbourne on Tuesday had Lara Antipova up on her toes while also giving her something to think about.
“It was good to take her away from her routine at home,” Gleeson said.
“She was fresh, on her toes, and you get the best surface for galloping.
“Her coat is the best it has been all prep, her weight is great, her attitude is terrific, and there seems a really good sense of timing, but she will need the luck with a good tempo.”
