Gear change for But It’s True at Pakenham

Mike Moroney has expected a little more from lightly raced four-year-old But It’s True and has opted to try a gear change at Pakenham.

But It’s True steps to 2000m for the first time in Saturday’s benchmark-78 handicap and Moroney has taken blinkers off, which he said weren’t working.

He has added a browband to the gelding to try to keep his head carriage lower under pressure.

But It’s True, by High Chaparral out of stakes winner Pennacchio, won a Warrnambool maiden by six lengths on debut in March and notched his second win at his third start the following month before a spell.

He has had three starts this campaign, with his best results thirds in benchmark 70 races over 1400m and 1500m at Pakenham and Bendigo respectively.

“He’s been a shade disappointing,” Moroney said.

“I’m tinkering with his gear and I’ve got an overhead browband on him to try to keep his head down a bit.

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“Basically there’s a theory, people say that a shadow roll (nose roll) is there to keep their head down but it’s not.

“It’s there to keep their head up because a shadow roll is to stop them from shying at shadows on the ground if they hold their head too low.

“They need it above their eye line.

“He just gets very head-high whenever the pressure is on, so we’re hoping that might help him.”

Moroney’s other question mark is whether But It’s True might want a soft track like he had at Warrnambool.

“That’s the other question mark I’ve got over him, but he’s a nice horse,” Moroney said.

“I suppose he’s lightly raced and done a pretty good job so far but I just thought he might have just taken that next step a little bit more because he looks terrific and looks stronger now.”

Moroney thought But It’s True was going to be a miler but said he was starting to look like he wanted further.