Tony Gollan believes the addition of blinkers will make the world of difference to his unbeaten colt Rock 'N' Summer at Doomben on Saturday.
Brisbane's premier trainer is bullish about the prospects of his Fastnet Rock colt in the 3YO Handicap (1200m) although he admits the race is hard to work out given formlines are converging from everywhere.
One thing Gollan knows for sure is his colt, who won a 1200m Ipswich maiden on debut on July 19, has plenty of untapped potential.
Blinkers go on for the first time on Saturday and Gollan is certain they will improve his lighty-raced three-year-old.
"I really think the blinkers will make panels of difference to him," Gollan said.
"He is a really, really nice horse who I have never quite got to the bottom of.
"There is a lot more (ability) there that we just haven't quite seen yet.
"He has been quite immature at times and if you look at his trials he has just been floating along.
"I know the blinkers will improve him sharply and I'm really keen to see what he can do on Saturday."
Rock 'N' Summer, to be ridden by Jim Byrne, is a $9 chance on Sportsbet in a market headed by unbeaten Toby Edmonds' runners Whypeeo ($3.80) and I Am Impinge ($5).
The Edmonds runners are coming off debut wins in northern NSW and Saturday's Doomben race also features Listed winner Cellargirl ($8) who has drawn barrier 17.
"Look, I am confident with my colt, but I guess it is hard to be too confident as there are horses coming from everywhere in this race," Gollan said.
"My horse keeps getting better and better and better and I do think he is well and truly up to winning this race.
"It surprised me a bit when he led at Ipswich and I would imagine we would probably be about three pairs back in the run in this race."
Saturday is something of a fact-finding mission for Gollan with Rock 'N' Summer and he says he will be in a better position to assess the colt's future racing prospects after the race.
