Tulip will sport blinkers for the first time when she lines up in the Gr.1 UBET Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes expects the Curraghmore graduate to be the big improver in the race and is optimistic of her chances despite the three-year-old Pierro filly failing in Sydney last start and drawing barrier 18 in Adelaide.
Hayes says the Group Three winning filly returned with ulcers from a Sydney campaign where she finished fifth in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes and 12th in the Gr.3 Birthday Card Stakes after enduring a tough run.
But the master trainer says she is now fully recovered and the filly to be ridden by Regan Bayliss will wear blinkers for the first time which could make all the difference.
“She came out of Sydney with some ulcers but we got on top of them and she is thriving now and her trackwork and trials have been excellent in private,” Hayes said on the Lindsay Park website.
“She will be ridden patiently and produced late and with the first time in blinkers, expect a much better run.”
Bred by Orpendale, Tulip is a $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock graduate from Curraghmore's 2016 draft.
