Sheidel (Image: Racing Photos)
David Hayes is hoping to frank one of racing's long-held myths when talented mare Sheidel tackles Friday night's Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley.
After returning to the track with an encouraging fourth in the Group 3 The Heath (1100m) at Caulfield, the six-year-old was served by champion sire Written Tycoon.
While she's yet to be confirmed in foal, Hayes is hoping the unorthodox preparation is one of several factors that can help the mare return to the form that saw her and star jockey Joao Moreira combine win the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) in February.
Hayes' father, legendary trainer Colin Hayes, held the belief that mares often improve their form after being served during a racing campaign, with the likes of Special and Mapperley Heights among the advocates of the theory.
"She's got three things to suggest her form will improve on Friday," Hayes said.
"One is Joao Moreira getting back on her, two is that she's been covered in between runs by a stallion, which often brightens them up, and three is that she's got blinkers for the first time in her career.
"Lindsay Park over the years have had a lot of success doing it (racing mares after they have been served) and hopefully she can be another one that gets the job done.
"Against that, she's got an average Moonee Valley record compared to other tracks."
Joining Sheidel in the capacity field for the Moir are talented stablemates Faatinah and Derryn, both of whom launch their spring preparations in the $500,000 dash.
Hayes believes backmarker Derryn can figure in the finish if the leaders set a solid tempo, while Faatinah hinted that he may go close to improving his impeccable first-up record (four starts for three wins), with a strong win in a recent Flemington jumpout.
"It's a high-pressure race and Derryn is a big swooper, and often swoopers can join in late in these races," he said.
"Fatinaah probably trialled as well as you can trial at Flemington a couple of weeks ago and with the blinkers on I think he'll be very competitive."