PALENTINO will work in blinkers on Monday before Darren Weir decides whether to apply the head gear to the dual Group 1 winner in Saturday’s $1 million TAB Epsom.

Palentino has never worn blinkers on race day but Weir is hoping a potential gear change may give the entire an edge at Randwick this Saturday.

“Obviously you need to get every inch you can and it might be just a good little gear change,” Weir said.

Black Heart Bart’s dominant victory in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday gave Weir plenty to smile about.

It not only confirmed Black Heart Bart’s Cox Plate tilt was back on track but also franked the form around stablemate Palentino, who defeated Black Heart Bart by one length in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) a fortnight earlier.

Palentino will carry the Epsom topweight of 57kg.

Weir can’t fault Palentino but admits 57kg and racing in the clockwise direction for the first time isn’t ideal.

“I don’t know really (about racing clockwise) and he is not an easy horse to ride so obviously it’s a little tricky I guess,” Weir said.

“Also he has a bit of weight but anyway we can’t do much about it.

“He is a pretty good horse and (the Makybe Diva) was the race he had been aimed towards and obviously being a stallion it was just great he did it.

“I was really happy with the way Black Heart Bart went (on Saturday) and Palentino has to have his final bit of work (today) and providing he works well he will go to Sydney for the Epsom.”

Weir feels the best is still to come from Palentino as the entire bids to give the champion Victorian trainer his first winner in Sydney this weekend.

“He is a great sort of horse and he is one of those horses that is definitely going to get better as they get older,” Weir said.

Palentino is a $7 equal second favourite for the Epsom with the TAB behind Hauraki ($6).

ASTERN, CAPITALIST SHOWDOWN

THE Roman Consul Stakes will create just as much intrigue as the Group 1s at Randwick this Saturday with Astern and Capitalist set for a showdown in the Group 2 race.

Godolphin on Sunday confirmed Astern would take on Capitalist in the Roman ­Consul (1200m) after overcoming an elevated temperature which ruled the Golden Rose winner out of Caulfield Guineas contention.

“He has fully recovered and returned to normal training at Osborne Park late last week,” trainer John O’Shea said.

O’Shea is keen to test Astern down the Flemington straight later this spring with the Coolmore Stud Stakes (October 29) or the Darley Classic (November 5) among the options.