The blinkers on and the extra step up in trip proved the difference for the Leon Macdonald-trained Extra Time at Morphettville on Saturday as the two-year-old by Shooting to Win took out the Group 3 National Stakes in a dominant front-running display from jockey Jason Holder.

Jockey Jason Holder (pictured on Charossa) rode Extra Time to victory in the 2020 National Stakes on The Goodwood Day. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Extra Time was having his third run back from a spell after running on well for seventh in the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes a fortnight ago. The promising young sprinter showed an enormous turn of foot over the final 100m, but got a little wayward and missed out on the placings.

MacDonald opted for the blinkers on Saturday with the horse clearly wanting further. Holder took care of the rest as the pair went on to win by a comfortable three lengths, handing Macdonald his fourth National Stakes win.

“The horse has been racing really well without much luck. He was run around a little bit today but I think the blinkers made all the difference to him,” Macdonald told racing.com.

“He looked to be a bit too keen to me, but by the time they got to the corner I sort of had a look back through the field and there was a lot of horses under pressure and I thought, oh well, he’ll keep going.”

Extra Time is also by New Zealand galloper Gwynethanne, who won three times over the mile in her lightly raced career. Macdonald went on to say that he’s very encouraged by the horses improvement, but a trip back to the paddock is likely on the cards.

There was no such luck for Kazuhiko, who was backed into favouritism over Diala early in the day.

The colt by Deep Impact had his chance coming into the straight, but didn’t have enough to run down Extra Time to finish second.

2020 National Stakes Results