Blinkers bid to sharpen Shamarkand

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable has swung the gear changes in a bid to extract some sign of form from a French import at Flemington. 

A set of blinkers and a tongue tie has been added to the race day gear of Shamarkand ahead of his start in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) on Saturday. 

Shamarkand will be lining up for his third start for the Waterhouse and Bott stable after being purchased at The Arc Sale last year for €170,000 (approx $300,000). 

The gelding had won three races in France including one at Listed level at Vichy, along with being placed in Group 3 company at Longchamp. 

At his last start in France, Shamarkand finished last to Illinois in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay (3000m) at Longchamp last October. 

Illinois went on to run second in the Ascot Gold Cup during the recent Royal Ascot meeting. 

Shamarkand is yet to show any glimpse of the form that saw him purchased last year in his two Australian runs, with his most recent effort being a sixth-place finish over 2600m at Flemington on July 5. 

"We've put the blinkers on in a bid to sharpen him up a bit," Bott said. 

"He's still adapting to the conditions over here and he's been a bit one-paced this preparation." 

Bott said the gelding's current campaign is about getting Shamarkand acclimatised to Australian conditions and the different style of racing. 

He said imported gallopers invariably improve in their second campaigns. 

"I thought there was some nice improvement there second-up and we thought the blinkers may help, but he may still be a preparation away from really seeing the form he has shown previously," Bott said. 

"We would like to see some improvement from him on Saturday but it's all stepping stones for next campaign and getting him acclimatised." 

Jett Stanley will again partner Shamarkand on Saturday.