Blinkers to give Pepperano Champagne edge

Thursday 7 May 2015, 3:51pm

Trainer Liam Birchley has added blinkers to the race gear of Pepperano despite her last-start win.

Pepperano has always indicated she is a top-class filly with two wins and a second to Le Chef in the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic from her five starts.

Pepperano and Le Chef will clash again in the Group Three Champange Classic (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

The filly won her comeback run at the Sunshine Coast on April 26 but Birchley was far from happy.

"It didn't exactly work out the way I thought it would. She wanted to switch off and that won't do against the better horses on Saturday," Birchley said.

"I have put the blinkers on her to switch her on. It is a smart field and she will need them."

Birchley believes Pepperano isn't far off some of the top two-year-olds he has trained.

"She is a different type to the genuine speed horses but she has a turn of foot and I think the blinkers will bring out the best in her," he said.

Pepperano will press on to the Group Two BRC Sires' (1350m) on May 30 and the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) on June 6.

Sydney jockey Tye Angland will take the ride on Pepperano with her last-start winning rider Damian Browne switching to Wicked Intent.

Birchley expects Pepperano's stablemate Reckless Abandon to stake a claim for the Group One Queensland Derby when he runs in the Rough Habit Plate on Saturday.

– AAP

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