The Mark Walker stable is introducing new equipment in their pursuit of a Group 1 victory with Lara Antipova.

A cross-over nose band will be fitted to the filly for the first time as Lara Antipova contests the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

After a successful 1400m run at Flemington on September 12, Lara Antipova subsequently finished fourth behind the colts in the Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27.

Walker’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson indicated that the filly raced too keenly during her last start, which prompted the decision to use the cross-over nose band.

Gleeson reported that Lara Antipova performed a solid gallop in the new gear at Caulfield on Tuesday and demonstrated much better control.

“She did a little bit wrong last start,” Gleeson stated. “She over travelled and it was a very slow tempo. I think they were six lengths slower than when she won at Flemington where she had a lovely run in transit.”

“I know everyone was saying she had all the favours, but they ran it at a pretty strong tempo and if you look at where the leader and the second (horse) in the run finished, out the back, she stuck on pretty strongly to win.”

“The tempo brought her undone the other day. I still think she ran boldly and didn’t drop out after over-travelling in the run.”

“She’s blown those cobwebs out now at the mile. She’s had a nice three weeks to get over it and the colts that beat her, they were beaten by two superstars in the Caulfield Guineas last week.”

“The fillies in the Guineas this week are nowhere near the colts, and we’ve put the crossover noseband on.”

“She was much more tractable with it in her gallop on Tuesday and if she can do everything right in the run and travel sweetly, she’s got a chance.”

Gleeson mentioned that the trip away from Cranbourne on Tuesday seemed to invigorate Lara Antipova, also providing her with a different experience.

“It was good to take her away from her routine at home,” Gleeson commented. “She was fresh, on her toes, and you get the best surface for galloping.”

“Her coat is the best it has been all prep, her weight is great, her attitude is terrific, and there seems a really good sense of timing, but she will need the luck with a good tempo.”

Those looking to back Lara Antipova can find the best racing odds at Australian betting sites.