Snitty Kitty primed for bold Moir bid

Never underestimate what a set of blinkers can do for a horse.

In the case of Snitty Kitty, Caulfield trainer Henry Dwyer's headline horse, the shades have made all the difference.

The gear change has helped transform the mare from a galloper who was, early in her career, getting beaten in provincial maidens and in lowly rated fillies races to one capable of winning at group 2 level.

Blinkers on: Snitty Kitty wins at Caulfield last spring.

Blinkers on: Snitty Kitty wins at Caulfield last spring.

On Friday she will seek to go to the next – and highest – level when she contests the group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley's grand final-eve night meeting.

She will be equipped with her regular set of blinkers, which will enhance her chances greatly. The only snag her trainer can see is that his flying machine is racing at the Valley, which he fears may not suit her on the basis of one (it must be admitted) limited piece of evidence.

Snitty Kitty has done most of her winning at Caulfield, where three of her six career victories have come. On her one attempt at the Valley almost two years ago she ran unaccountably poorly, beating only two home in a 10-runner handicap for three-year-old fillies.

No one knows if that was a one off or not; certainly Dwyer is hoping that now, as an older, stronger mare equipped with headgear, Snitty Kitty will prove that the Valley has no fears for her.

''She is pretty dynamic at Caulfield, but you would think Moonee Valley, a tight-turning track would suit her being a front-runner.

''She has had one run at the Valley and got beaten something like 14 lengths in a three-year-old fillies benchmark 64 or something. Mind you, we also got her beaten in a maiden at Bendigo first start without blinkers.''

Snitty Kitty only knows one way to race and that is to get out in front and burn her rivals off. Ideally suited to the 1000-metre trip of the Moir, jockey Mark Zahra will have to ensure she jumps well from barrier eight (of 13) to get across to the fence and lead without expending too much energy early.

It won't be an easy task with such speedsters as the big spruik horse of the spring, Everest candidate Nature Strip in the field, while the likes of Faatinah, Jungle Edge and Houtzen have all gone from the front in the past.

The daughter of Snitzel needs her races spaced out, which is why the Moir will be the first run of this campaign.

''First-up we were going to run in the McEwan [won by Nature Strip from Houtzen] three weeks ago, and it looked high pressure and not ideal first-up,'' he said.

''Now she is a bit fitter it's fine, we are happy to have a hard run first-up. If we had bottomed her up first-up we would not have had anything left for spring.

''She has one way to win races, which is to lead or sit outside the leaders. She is going to have to work to get there, but if we end up in position one or two she will be a chance, if she doesn't she is no chance.

''She doesn't cope with a heap of racing. She is better with one run, three or four weeks off, then another run and another break.

''She's an amazing transformation horse with the blinkers on. Everyone said she only trialled fair at Cranbourne last week, but that was with no blinkers on.

'Until you put the blinkers on you don't get a guide. We are confident that she is sound and well and the proof will be in the pudding on Friday night.''

Dwyer has made a steady start to the new season. The young trainer took over many of the horses from the Aquanita operation of Robert Smerdon when the latter was suspended and he says he is still learning about a number of them.

He has sent out nine winners from 63 runners statewide since August 1, but his strike rate in the metropolitan area (two winners from nine runners) is more impressive.

*On Wednesday Dwyer was fined $1000 by South Australian stewards for having a vial of Sarapin at the Morphettville stables where his horse Legless Veuve travelled to race during the May carnival.
Sarapin is a substance which is used in horses to help ease pain and inflammation.

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