Trainer Clinton McDonald has put blinkers on Bigelow to sharpen him up for his third-up tilt at the $100,000 Pink Ribbon Cup on his home track at Caulfield on Saturday.The talented three-year-old, by 2005 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher, ran fifth to smart sprinter Shrapnel in the Group Two Yallambee Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on March 14.After jumping away awkwardly, the gelding settled back ninth of the 10 runners and ran on to finish nearly 5-1/2 lengths behind the winner."He was a b
Trainer Clinton McDonald has put blinkers on Bigelow to sharpen him up for his third-up tilt at the $100,000 Pink Ribbon Cup on his home track at Caulfield on Saturday.
The talented three-year-old, by 2005 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher, ran fifth to smart sprinter Shrapnel in the Group Two Yallambee Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on March 14.
After jumping away awkwardly, the gelding settled back ninth of the 10 runners and ran on to finish nearly 5-1/2 lengths behind the winner.
"He was a bit one-paced second-up in Adelaide but he seems to have come through the race in good order and I think he'll run well," McDonald said.
"He'll have a pretty light autumn. He'll have this start and maybe one more before he goes to the paddock and then we'll get him ready for the spring.
"We've been running him at unsuitable trips but I'm happy to keep him at that at this stage and he'll have the blinkers on for the first time on Saturday to sharpen him up."
McDonald said if Bigelow had another run after the 1200m Pink Ribbon Cup before a spell it would be in the Group Three Victoria Hcp (1400m) at Caulfield on April 23, a race the trainer won with the classy Regal Roller in 2004.
"I think he's an ideal type of horse for that race and that's something we'll look at for sure," he said.
Last spring Bigelow progressed quickly from a Wangaratta Maiden (1170m) win in September to score over 1200m at Moonee Valley two runs later and then win the Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
A week later he ran third to Pressday in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 13 before going for a spell.
He resumed with a come-from-behind win over 955m at Moonee Valley on February 25.
Les Beer, who rode Bigelow to win his maiden, takes the ride on the gelding who has drawn barrier nine in the 14-horse field.
Bigelow, who is taking on older gallopers for the first time, is on the fifth line of betting with Zedi Knight at $11 behind Pinwheel, the $3.30 favourite, Stanzout at $6.50, Time Matters at $7 and Carrara at $9.