Brad Rawiller rides Star Exhibit to victory in his debut for Darren Weir (Image: Racing Photos)
Star Exhibit will need to trial with a blindfold on if connections wish to utilise the piece of gear in races this spring after the galloper bombed the start without one in Saturday’s Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at The Valley.
Trainer Darren Weir spoke to stewards following the race regarding Star Exhibit and his belief that the gelding should have been wearing a blindfold in the gates, as per his runner-up placing in the Group 1 Doomben Cup earlier in the year.
But speaking on Racing.com’s After The Last program, Racing Victoria’s chief steward Terry Bailey said there was nothing on the national database to suggest the six-year-old required a blindfold at the barriers.
WATCH: Bonneval win despite the dramas
“It was just one of those unfortunate cases where the horse reared up as the start was affected and as there was no outside influence the horse was deemed a runner,” Bailey said.
“He (Weir) expressed concern that the horse was supposed to wear a blindfold which is used quite often to get horses into the barriers but we are unaware of that and the horse has had three runs in Victoria and has never worn one.
“The horse will have to go back to the trials and trial in a blindfold and get it right going forward.”