Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace will race in blinkers for the first time when he attempts to get his winter campaign back on track in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on Saturday week.Trainer Mick Mair ordered the gear change after Swiss Ace ran the worst race of his career to finish last to the Anthony Cummings-trained Duporth in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday.Swiss Ace led all the way from the outside barrier to win the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February and won succes

Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace will race in blinkers for the first time when he attempts to get his winter campaign back on track in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on Saturday week.

Trainer Mick Mair ordered the gear change after Swiss Ace ran the worst race of his career to finish last to the Anthony Cummings-trained Duporth in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

Swiss Ace led all the way from the outside barrier to win the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February and won successive Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes at Eagle Farm last month by leading.

However, the four-year-old entire was in a piggish mood in the enclosure before the BTC Cup and failed to muster his customary speed, struggling to stay in touch with early leader Bank Robber.

Mair wasn't totally surprised with Swiss Ace's behaviour and is hoping blinkers will help restore his good manners.

"I've always wanted to run him in blinkers but up to now I've never had the opportunity because his form has been so good," Mair said.

"He's a bull and there comes a time when you have some sympathy for him.

"He's done this before but only in trackwork and it's disappointing to see him play up before a Group One.

"He's been progressively getting worse and has threatened a number of times to do it."

Swiss Ace's previous worst performance was in last year's Stradbroke Handicap when the then three-year-old finished 15th to Mr Baritone.

Mair said Swiss Ace had pulled up well following his BTC Cup failure but is yet to work the son of Secret Savings in the headgear.

"Our plan was to lead in the BTC Cup but they still didn't go that hard up front," he said.

"He's pulled up really well since the run but I'll let him get over it before I surprise him with blinkers in his trackwork next week."

Swiss Ace was one of the main fancies for the Doomben 10,000 before his BTC Cup defeat but is now a $15 chance in fixed odds betting for the 1350-metre feature behind $3.30 favourite Apache Cat.

Mair also plans to start Swiss Ace in next month's Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm provided the track is good.

Swiss Ace received 54.5 kilos for the Stradbroke when weights were released on Monday.

"I'm happy with his Stradbroke weight and it won't be a problem if they all go up 1.5 kilos," he said.

Weights for the Stradbroke will be raised 1.5 kilograms if topweight Apache Cat (60kg) and Racing To Win (58.5kg) don't start.

Trainer John O'Shea will run Racing To Win in Saturday's Group One Doomben Cup (2020m) in preference to the Stradbroke.

Trainer Greg Eurell was annoyed with Apache Cat's Stradbroke weight and indicated the baldy-faced star wouldn't be a starter in Queensland's premier sprint.