Innovation Girl Too Good At The Valley
By Mark Ryan of AAP Racing 17/08/02

Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith is keen to take the blinkers off outstanding filly Innovation Girl despite her narrow win in today's Listed $80,000 William Crockett Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

The Flemington trainer said he had been thinking about taking the blinkers off even before today's race.

"So she can race a bit more settled and relaxed," he said.

"I want to teach her to settle and go a bit further."

Despite being on the wrong leg and laying out in the straight, odds-on favourite Innovation Girl got home by a half-neck from Sydney speedster Before Too Long with Vegas Show 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Innovation Girl has only been beaten once in six starts, when narrowly defeated by Yell in the Veuve Clicquot (1100m) at Caulfield last February after which she was spelled.

The Rubiton three-year-old is now unbeaten in two Moonee Valley starts but Mayfield-Smith said she also wasn't comfortable around the circuit when she won here last December.

Mayfield-Smith is looking at taking on Bel Esprit in the Group Three $125,000 HDF McNeil Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 31.

Her winning time of 59.89s was slightly faster than Bel Esprit took to win earlier today in the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes.

Mayfield-Smith explained that a clash with Bel Esprit in the McNeil would be a good yardstick to see if she goes on to the Group Two $350,000 Ascot Vale Stakes (1200m) at Flemington a week later.

"I'd like to have a go at the Ascot Vale, but she'll need a lead-up run before that," he said.

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