Wodonga-based trainer Brian Cox is hoping blinkers and a tongue-tie can help three-year-old filly Yuleba recapture the form that earned her an eye-catching third placing behind Norzita at Moonee Valley in February.
Yuleba went to the paddock in April for a spell after two more races where she finished well back and is returning in the Isca Hcp (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Cox said he wasn't disappointed with Yuleba's last two runs and believed she may have put everything into her surprise (150-1) effort in the Listed Typhoon Tracy and did not have much left in the tank for a further campaign.
"From an outsider's point of view it could have looked disappointing but at the time, when she ran that good race at Moonee Valley, we probably should have turned her out after that," Cox said.
"She had run so brilliantly, she may have run too hard."
He said Yuleba has been tweaked during her spell and would run with blinkers and a tongue-tie because she had been holding her breath while racing.
Cox has three other horses entered at Flemington but two are in doubt because of the forecast wet weather and a wide barrier draw.
He said Full Hand might not make the trip to Flemington because of his barrier 13 in the Hiraji Hcp (1600m) while Bringenbrong, in the same race, might stay at home if it was too wet.
Cox said Bringenbrong raced at Moonee Valley over 1600 metre in February to see how he handled the distance with an eye to running him in the Oaks Day greys race in the spring.
"We took him down because we wanted to see if he's up to going to Flemington on Oaks Day," Cox said.
"But if it's a heavy track tomorrow we won't be bringing him down."
Smoken Cash, in the Aspen Hcp (1000m) is another greys candidate Cox would like to see run on Oaks Day.
"If he goes all right we might take him to the paddock for a freshen-up for that greys race," he said.
One of the most popular races of the Flemington carnival, there is now a push to name the 1400m handicap after one of the most famous greys, 1992 Melbourne Cup winner Subzero who, at age 24, had a health scare this week after going off his food and losing weight.