Blinkers to winkers - that's the gear change trainer Kelly Schweida is hoping will help talented colt Epic win the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at Caloundra on Saturday.Epic wore blinkers last start when he jumped from an awkward barrier to claim the TL Cooney Handicap (1350m) on Ipswich Cup day on June 18.Epic was ridden in the Cooney by Chris Munce who endorsed Schweida's decision to step the son of Stratum up in distance to 1600 metres following his narrow Ipswich victory.Munce believed Epic

Blinkers to winkers - that's the gear change trainer Kelly Schweida is hoping will help talented colt Epic win the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at Caloundra on Saturday.

Epic wore blinkers last start when he jumped from an awkward barrier to claim the TL Cooney Handicap (1350m) on Ipswich Cup day on June 18.

Epic was ridden in the Cooney by Chris Munce who endorsed Schweida's decision to step the son of Stratum up in distance to 1600 metres following his narrow Ipswich victory.

Munce believed Epic wasn't comfortable on the tight, turning Ipswich track and believes the much roomier Caloundra track would be more to the three-year-old's liking.

Despite the high praise from Munce, the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey has passed up the mount on Epic to again ride Benny's Buttons who was runner-up to Torio's Quest in the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

Benny's Buttons is trained by Kelso Wood who also will be represented in the Sunshine Coast Guineas by Igles Star.

Schweida has been thinking of a gear change for Epic for some time but a wide barrier was the deciding factor to switch to winkers.

"He overraced when he won at Ipswich but still did a good job to win," Schweida said.

"Had he drawn an alley on Saturday I probably would have left them on but he's got barrier 12 this time.

"This is a lot stronger field and I'm hoping the winkers will help him settle a bit better."

Schweida has booked former Kiwi jockey Michael Walker as Munce's replacement in the Sunshine Coast Guineas.

Caloundra is currently rated a slow (6) but the wet track doesn't concern Schweida.

"He's trained on well since his Ipswich win and the set weights suit him," he said.

"This is a lot stronger field than he met at Ipswich but a wet track won't worry him.

"If he runs well I'm thinking of sending him across the border for the Grafton Guineas in a few weeks."

Epic has never raced on a heavy track butwas runner-up on a slow (6) when beaten four lengths in a Gold Coast Maiden in January.