RIVERSIDE harness racing trainer Chester Bullock doesn’t often ignore advice of co-owners of his six-year-old Cardinal Art but he was glad he did in Launceston on Sunday night.
Bullock said his partners in the horse weren’t keen when he advised them he wanted to apply pull-down blinds to the gear of Cardinal Art but he put them on anyway and they proved the desired result.
Cardinal Art settled last in the Longford Equine Clinic Stakes (2200m) before being sent three-wide around the field at the bell.
When driver Ricky Duggan edged close to the leader 400 metres from home he released the blinds.
The gelded son of Modern Art bounded clear and went on to defeat Butch And Clyde by over seven metres with I’ve Got Oomph just over a metre astern.
“Ricky (Duggan) said the new gear did the trick – when he pulled the blinds down the horse just took off,” Bullock said.
“It was like he found another gear and why that happens I don’t know – maybe it gives them an adrenalin rush,” he said.
Cardinal Art recorded a mile rate of 2.03.2.
Bullock says he always holds off using the pull-down blinds until horses are mature.
Cardinal Art has won five times but he also has notched 18 minor placings to easily pay his way.