Still smarting from the failure of one horse to handle straight racing, Liam Birchley has taken steps to minimise the risk of it happening to another.

Birchley has made a key gear change to Liesele for her assignment in the Group Three G H Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Thursday, fitting blinkers to the in-form mare.

Missy Longstocking “got lost” when she tackled the straight course for the first time last Saturday in Zoustar’s Coolmore Stud Stakes, prompting Birchley to take precautionary measures with her stablemate.

“That’s why I’ve made a gear change and put the blinkers on to try and help her (Liesele) focus a bit,” Birchley said.

“Missy Longstocking just got lost, which can happen. We were denied a jump out up the straight there beforehand so she didn’t get an opportunity to look at it and unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

A last-start winner in Listed company at Caulfield, Liesele has drawn barrier 14 in the field of 16 plus four emergencies.

Birchley says the ground out wide historically holds up best during the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival and hopes that is again the case this spring.

“It tends to happen every year, they get out wider and wider so it might work out alright for us,” Birchley said.

“I think she’s improved. As long as he can get a bit of cover, get a bit of a drag in, I think she’ll run really well.”