Image: Reg Ryan
A cross-over noseband has been called upon for Aidensfield when she runs at Flemington
Lindsay Park galloper Aidensfield can be her own worst enemy in her races by refusing to settle.
But trainers Ben and JD Hayes have called on some different gear for the recently turned four-year-old when she runs in the VRC Member Julie Purnell Handicap (1410m) on Saturday.
Aidensfield will race in a cross-over noseband on Saturday in a bid to get the mare to settle.
A winner of her first two starts, Aidensfield was given the opportunity at stakes level as a spring three-year-old, finishing second to Odeum in Listed grade at Caulfield before running tenth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas last October.
An autumn campaign was aborted after one run while the daughter of Dissident has had three runs this campaign.
A first-up seventh up the straight in the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) was followed by a third-place finish in the Rivette Series Final (1400m) on July 3.
On both those occasions Aidensfield was keen and the Lindsay Park team tried a cross-over noseband in trackwork on the then filly, but she was not happy with the added gear.
But after getting well back in a fast run race over 1400m when fourth behind Chassis at Flemington on July 17, more work was put into Aidensfield to get her accustomed to the new gear.
“It has been a little bit of an issue her over-racing so we’ve been trying her out in a cross-over noseband,” Ben Hayes said.
“We were going to put it on for her last start but she was just fighting it a little bit.
“We’ve done some more work and feel now is the time to use the cross-over noseband.
“She ran really well the other day, she closed off excellent but probably got a little further back than we wanted.
“If she settles, she’s definitely got the ability to win.”
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