Blinkers to make a difference

Roger James is banking on a gear addition to give Monrecour an edge when she attempts to add another winning strike to her record at Wednesday’s Counties meeting.

The Cambridge trainer has been pleased with the Zacinto filly’s progress and he expects her to give another bold account of herself in the Lone Star Pukekohe 1400.

“She looks very well-placed in the race and I’ll put the blinkers on her, I’ve been thinking of doing that for a while,” James said.

Monrecour made the best possible start to her career when she was a debut winner at Tauranga and she has since acquitted herself well with minor placings at Avondale and at Te Rapa.

James said the filly had trained on well and she will be ridden by the in-form Matthew Cameron.

The Group One-winning jockey will also take the reins aboard Monrecour’s stablemates Doubtless Bay (NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race) and Advent (Mount Shop 1400).

“Doubtless Bay has run close behind some quite smart horses at time and at other times she has been found a bit wanting,” James said. “She’s well and she will be better next preparation.”

The Mastercraftsman filly has placed in four of her eight starts, although her best run was arguably a close fifth in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes in the spring.

Advent will be making a fresh start at Pukekohe after one unplaced run earlier in the season.

“She won at the Avondale trials, what she beat I don’t know but she has worked well since,” James said. “She’s another who will be better next time, she’s a bit frail still.”