Gear changes were very much the flavour of the morning at the two all-weather barrier trials at Sha Tin yesterday where John Moore's Rice Field won the opening heat with the blinkers applied for the first time.
The English import never raced in the blinkers before arriving but, following three mediocre performances, Moore (pictured) opted to apply the blinkers and it paid dividends.
Rice Field jumped reasonably well out of the gates but was quickly ridden along by Olivier Doleuze to attain the lead.
Caspar Fownes-trained maiden Toy Quest showed a lot more zest with the side winkers applied. In the past, he has had the hood and the visor applied but never delivered.
John Size's Zabebe was given a quiet time from Douglas Whyte from start to finish.
He could have gone on to win the trial if allowed a little rein.
David Hall's Lucky Marauding (seventh) was ridden very patiently by Shane Dye and he, too, could have ended much closer than his official finishing position.