Blinkers to help Symphonette at Valley

Phillip Stokes expects the addition of blinkers will help keep Symphonette focused at the business end of the race when the filly makes her Melbourne debut at Moonee Valley.

Adelaide-based Stokes has three horses set to compete at Moonee Valley on Saturday, starting with Symphonette in the Ladbrokes Info Hub Handicap (1200m) for two-year-old fillies.

Symphonette raced close to the pace on debut in a 1000m-maiden in Adelaide two weeks ago and kicked clear in the straight before being chased down by fellow first starter No Joy.

“It might have been a smart one that beat her and they beat the rest of the field quite easily,” Stokes said.

“When she got to the front she got a bit lost and stargazed so the blinkers go on and she worked well on Tuesday with them on.

“She ran to the line well on Tuesday morning and didn’t stargaze so I’m thinking that will be a big benefit for her.”

Stokes is looking forward to seeing how the filly performs on Saturday and then plans to give Symphonette a little break, believing the filly will also benefit from the interstate trip.

“It’s an even sort of race and I think she’ll be competitive,” he said.

Symphonette is by Helmet out of Symphony Miss, a mare Stokes trained and he said the filly reminded him of the dam.

“She won a Group Three Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield, so I’m hoping she can eventually get to that level,” he said.

Symphonette was at $5 on Friday.

Stokes also has five-year-old gelding Boggoms in the Silver Thomas Hanley Plate (1200m) and three-year-old filly Flying Krupt in the Embassy Print Solutions Sprint (1000m).

Both finished second in their first-up runs this campaign in Adelaide at their most recent starts.

Regan Bayliss rides Symphonette and Flying Krupt but Stokes has gone for his 2kg claiming apprentice Dylan Caboche to ride Boggoms who has 61kg.

“Although he hasn’t ridden him race day he has ridden him in a lot of trackwork and he knows the horse,” Stokes said.

“Dylan is quite a strong lad so I’m sure he’ll give him every chance.

“I feel he can be very competitive.”