Trainer Simon Miller says blinkers to give Son Of A God a further boost in Listed Bunbury Stakes

In-form trainer Simon Miller expects the addition of blinkers to give Son Of A God a further boost in today’s Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m).

Miller expects the crucial gear change to help his talented gelding, a winner at six of 12 starts, race more tractably.

A close third to Cryptic Love in the Listed Pinjarra Classic (1300m) last start, Son Of A God has been backed into outright favouritism at $3.50 with Ladbrokes.

“He just rolled around a bit at Pinjarra but he’ll go straight with blinkers on,” Miller said.

“No doubt it will be a positive.

“If you asked me last prep would I consider blinkers, I would have said no chance in hell.

“But he’s a lot more mature and settling in his races this prep, so it’s perfect timing.”

Miller also said a rain-affected track would suit Son Of A God, who has won his only two starts on soft tracks.

Bunbury was rated a soft 7 yesterday but will improve with fine weather.

Fresh from a treble at Ascot a week ago, Miller is chasing his second Bunbury Stakes after winning with Achernar Star in 2019.

“The horse is well and ready to go,” Miller said of Son Of A God.

“He’s got a good gate (four) and Chris Parnham back on.

“It would be unreal to win it for the owners who are from Bunbury.”

Parnham could be set for a big day when he rides the three favourites in today’s Listed races.

His Bunbury Cup (2000m) mount, Montelena, has a stranglehold on the race at $1.70 and Kissonallforcheeks is the $2.30 elect in the WA Breeders’ Classic (1400m).

Trap For Fools, the 62kg top-weight in the Bunbury Cup, will have to break Lords Ransom’s modern era weight-carrying record to beat Montelena.

Lords Ransom overcame 59.5kg to win his second Bunbury Cup in 2012.

However, jockey Joseph Azzopardi said the Group 1 winner was capable of defying history.

“It is a big weight to carry, especially over that trip, but you’ve just got to remember he’s probably a class above them and he deserves the weight,” Azzopardi told TABradio.

“Over this trip he should be able to roll to the front and get it a lot softer than the other day.”