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By Ray Hickson

Her first-up record might not be great reading but trainer Ross McConville has signalled Either Oar will have her game face on at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Ross McConville (Pic: Grant Guy)

The six-year-old has managed just two placings from six fresh attempts but she will carry the blinkers in a first-up assignment for the first time in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m).

Either Oar has won three barrier trials without the blinkers on but McConville said the stable usually waits until the mare is second or third-up to use the shades so he's keen to try something new.

“We just wanted to sharpen her up a bit,’’ he said.

“She normally takes a run or two to come good but we’ve given her three trials so this preparation she’s more forward than she has been in her previous preps.

“She’s come up really well, she’s not showing any signs of age catching up with her. The trials we’ve given her have just been excellent.”

Last preparation she resumed with a fourth at Canterbury without the blinkers but wore them in her next four including three placings on end in Benchmark 78 grade.

McConville did accept with Either Oar, $7 with TAB on Thursday, in Monday’s Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m) but was leaning towards Randwick where Zac Lloyd is booked to ride from the outside alley.

He said he would prefer an inside gate but hopes Lloyd can get the right run.

“When you draw the outside you just leave it up to the jockey and see what he does,’’ he said.

“If she can bounce and roll to the lead that would really suit us but there are a couple of others there that could challenge her. Give her an inside gate and she’s definitely there.”

Lightly raced three-year-old Runwiththetide drops in grade in search of a win in the Midway Handicap (1400m) and McConville said he’s a horse that still has upside.

He showed a lot of fight when run down by Fairway Star at Randwick three weeks ago at his first try at the distance and only rises 1kg for what is effectively a class drop into Midway grade.

“We’ve got high hopes for him but he’s just had a few niggling things we’ve had to work on and get around,’’ he said.

“He will be very competitive but he’s still learning the trade.

“He’s a Headwater and normally they don’t like to go past 1200m but he’s given us an inkling that he will get a bit of distance.”

McConville said Saturday’s race could be the gelding’s last run for the preparation but a decision will be made after his performance is assessed.

Meanwhile, the Kembla Grange trainer is hopeful Thaibeefsalade can break through in the New Year’s Resolutions Handicap (1400m) on her home track on Saturday.

Either Oar wins a Kembla trial on December 18

The filly rebounded from a shock failure at Nowra on December 10 to record a third placing at Kembla Grange four days later. McConville said she should appreciate getting to 1400m.

“She’s showed us a lot, we took her to Nowra looking to win a race and she played up down there like you wouldn’t believe,’’ he said.

“She just didn’t perform then I backed her up the Thursday after and she ran a good race. She’s going to be a nice horse, she’s definitely going to win races.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting