Blinkers Off for Blue Blood in Walter Brown

Thursday, 27 March 2003 00:00

Leading trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping the removal of blinkers will be a winning move with the blue blooded filly La Boiselle as she heads into Saturday's $40,300 Vinery Stud Walter Brown Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.

A record breaking yearling from last year's Ausrtalian Easter Yearling Sale where she was knocked down for a cool $1.5 million, the daughter of champion sire Danehill is still a maiden after two starts.

On debut the youngster led at Balaklava before being swamped over the concluding stages by the Hawkes prepared Diurnal. Punters sent out La Boiselle at $1.40.

A fortnight later at Murray Bridge punters stuck by the regally bred filly sending her out at $1.28 when she was beaten in a photo finish by the Craig Curtis trained Lady Knight.

McEvoy said today the filly had "trained on well" and connections had decided to remove blinkers, which she had worn at her previous two runs.

"We've taken the blinkers off for this start as she seemed to race a bit too aggressive with them on," McEvoy said.

Connections have been slightly disappointed with the race day efforts of La Boiselle at both Balaklava and Murray Bridge.

"Her race day efforts have been well below what she has done (in track work and trials) at Lindsay Park," the in form trainer reported.

A half sister to top class Group One winners Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass, La Boiselle has currently earned $2,100 on the track and her prominent owners are hoping she can chip away a large chunk of her purchase price and in doing so earn valuable black type, which would send her potential broodmare value higher.

La Boiselle isn't the only blue blooded Danehill filly in the field that will be running for McEvoy in the Walter Brown.

Isle of Gibraltar, a $310,000 yearling purchase for renowned bloodstock agent James Bester at Easter last year, is a three quarter sister to the champion international galloper Rock of Gibraltar.

McEvoy said he had a good opinion of the youngster, although he wasn't expecting her to be at her best until at least another year down the track.

"She was never bred to be a real two-year-old," McEvoy said. "But she's beautifully bred and I've been happy with her work to date."

The hardest for both fillies to beat appears on paper to be the last start stakes winning Leon Macdonald trained Mot D'or.

A son of Dieu D'or, Mot D'or finished out of a place in the Adelaide Magic Millions Classic before winning the listed Balcrest Stakes at his very next start.

PIC - Quentin Lang.