LET'SROLLTHEDICE BOUNCES BACK

Danny O'Brien's Let'srollthedice has bounced back from a freshen-up to claim the first race on Thousand Guineas Day at Caulfield, showing off a sharp turn of foot in the process.

In a small but quality field of five runners, including Group 1 winner Dunkel ($2.60f), the result was always going to be dependent on the race pattern, with Mr French ($7) the only noted leader.

But when Mr French was slow to step, the race was run at snail's pace early, as Saint Bathans ($4.80) and Craig Newitt found themselves in front but showed no intention of staying there.

Thus, Michael Dee and Let'srollthedice took the initiative and the lead, putting on some slow sectionals through the middle stages before stoking things up before the turn.

The favourite looked the winner halfway up the straight but peaked on his run and Let'srollthedice kicked again strongly to put the race to bed late.

Dunkel held on gamely for second, with Saint Bathans and Ulysses ($7.50) hitting the line locked together in a dead-heat for third.

O'Brien said the application of blinkers was a great help to his galloper, 'particularly with him going to (the) lead just to help him focus'.

"We really thought he was going to be outside the leader," he said.

"But the horse we thought would lead was going back to last, so he was left there and Michael rated the horse right and upped the tempo at the right time, too."

Going forward, the Ballarat Cup may prove a suitable assignment for the son of Dundeel, who was a Group 2 winner as a two-year-old.

"He could potentially go to the Ballarat Cup. That is in three weeks' time and 2000 metres is the right step for him," O'Brien said.

"He had them chasing and the horse was fit and well. He had a year off and had three runs and a break before today, so he can go on with it from here."

Dee echoed O'Brien's thoughts to a tee, also saying the blinkers could prove a major advantage stepping up further in distance.

"I thought we may end up outside the leader or outside the speed, but we landed there (in front) comfortably and we travelled nice," he said.

"He was relaxed and to the horse's credit he ended up towing me around the bend and we ended up kicking on the corner and holding it right to the line.

"Blinkers on today certainly kept him focussed and going up in trip - no worries."

By Darcy Cosgriff for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos