After watching Vestas go through her paces at Caulfield earlier this week, trainer Clinton McDonald joked that a wide barrier might have suited the mare better.

Instead, she has come up with gate two for Saturday’s Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, but McDonald is hoping the addition of blinkers will help spark an improved performance.

The mare was taken to Caulfield on Tuesday to work in the new gear after leaving her trainer disappointed with her latest run over 1200 metres at Caulfield on November 15.

“The other day I didn’t think she tried one yard,” McDonald said, explaining his decision to apply blinkers to Vestas’ race-day equipment.

“She was disappointing and we’ve got to try something different with her.

“She’s a temperamental mare, and a bit like Cinderella, she needs everything perfect and being a racehorse, you don’t always get that.

“She’s got to build our trust back, but her work on Tuesday morning was solid, and the proof will be in the pudding on race day.”

Despite having only one win and two placings from eight starts, McDonald remains confident Vestas has the talent to measure up at Stakes level.

She burst onto the scene with a maiden win at Cranbourne before immediately stepping to Group company, finishing second in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

That early promise, however, has made her an increasingly frustrating prospect for the stable.

“She’s going to lose a lot more than she wins because of her racing pattern and that’s because of the way you’ve got to ride her,” McDonald said.

“She doesn’t like being inside horses. She’s not a stable favourite at the moment, I can assure you, but all we can do is try new things.

“We can’t fault her condition, her action is good and she’s eating well.

“She’s a very good mare on her day. She’s got a great turn of foot and she’s a Black Type mare.

“We’ve got to remember too that she’s very lightly raced.

“She’s a four-year-old mare that’s had eight starts, she’s still got to learn how to race and maybe it’s now time to put the blinkers and see if that makes a difference for her.”

If you’re having a bet on the Doveton Stakes, compare the latest markets at the best Australian betting sites.