In Brief
- Removing the blinkers helps Westerly Haze to settle.
- Luttrell plans to step his talented seven-year-old up in distance.
- Race in Devonport Westerly Haze's next assignment.
Longford trainer Peter Luttrell has always believed his consistent galloper Westerly Haze would measure up over a bit of ground and this campaign the gelded son of West Quest will be given the opportunity to prove it.
Westerly Haze ($7) resumed from the coronavirus pandemic-enforced shutdown with a game win in a benchmark 74 handicap over 1200 metres at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre in Launceston last Sunday.
The seven-year-old gelding came from last and rattled home toward the inside to score from race leader Geegee Trendsetter ($3.90 fav) and Artie Dee Two ($4.80).
Luttrell made a significant gear change for this latest assignment and one that he has bed been contemplating for some time.
“The horse has always raced in blinkers, which is probably why he has over raced so much, but each time I was tempted to take them (blinkers) off I backed out,” Luttrell said.
“But I bit the bullet and took them off for this run and when he settled last, I thought I might have got it wrong.
“But he just settled so much better and he was still able to win and that’s very encouraging given I want to step him out to longer distances.”
Westerly Haze has been very consistent with this latest win his seventh and he also has notched 15 minor placings from only 37 starts for $110,000 in stakes.
Luttrell will aim Westerly Haze at a benchmark 74 over 1150m in Devonport on Sunday week after which he will look at gradually stepping him up in distance.
“He goes really well on the synthetic in Devonport so that’s where we’ll go next and then look at either a 1350m race at that track or we’ll go to Hobart for a 1400-metre race if there is one available next month.”
Westerly Haze has a great record in Launceston where he has won four and been placed eight times from 18 outings, but that track is out of play as it will undergo refurbishing work in preparation for the 2020-21 night season.
Racing for the next two months will rotate between Hobart and Devonport.
Watch Westerly Haze win the benchmark 74 in Launceston last Sunday.