FACED with the challenge of coaxing underachieving four-year-old Ma Shang back to the winners' list, Mornington trainer Tony Noonan reached into his bag of tricks and produced a pair of earmuffs, with the gear change having the desired effect at Betfair Park yesterday, reports The Age.Its report says: Ma Shang had shown considerable promise last winter but failed to realise that potential when set for stakes races over the summer. "He gets a bit fired up when he gets to the races and as a r
FACED with the challenge of coaxing underachieving four-year-old Ma Shang back to the winners' list, Mornington trainer Tony Noonan reached into his bag of tricks and produced a pair of earmuffs, with the gear change having the desired effect at Betfair Park yesterday, reports The Age.
Its report says: Ma Shang had shown considerable promise last winter but failed to realise that potential when set for stakes races over the summer. "He gets a bit fired up when he gets to the races and as a result he doesn't settle during the run. I thought we'd try the earmuffs to see if they'd settle him down," Noonan said.
Noonan discovered the benefits of earmuffs after discussions with Queensland-based equestrian riders Michelle and Peter McMahon. "I think I was probably the first trainer to use them when I tried them out a few years ago but they've been sitting in the cupboard until now," he said.
"Michelle and Peter had used them with success in equestrian. They just block out a bit of noise and have a calming affect on some horses and they seem to have done the job with him."
Following his win in the Betfair Handicap Ma Shang is likely to contest heats of the Winter Championship ahead of the final at Flemington on July 4.
The already successful association between Caulfield-based trainer Mick Price and Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Stud continued to build momentum at Sandown as debutant Morning Swim won the Begonia Belle Handicap.