A quiet trial by Bel Sprinter at Cranbourne today is just what trainer Jason Warren wanted as he counts down to the Group 1 $450,000 A. J. Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.
Bel Sprinter winning the G1 Galaxy at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bel Sprinter was having his first public appearance since finishing second to top Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine in the Group 1 S$1m Krisflyer International Sprint (1200m) at Singapore on May 19.
Warren was happy with the six year old’s second to the well performed Shamal Wind in the 800m trial and will be increasing his work load over the next couple of weeks to have him peak on Moir Stakes night.
“He’ll be ready to go when it comes to the Moir,” Warren told Racing Network.
“Basically, we just wanted him to have a day out.”
“He’s only really had a few improving gallops since he’s been back in work, but he’s tracking along beautifully.
“Hopefully, I might be able to give him a gallop between races somewhere along the line.
Damien Oliver has been booked to ride Bel Sprinter during the Melbourne Spring Carnival which will include runs in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 and the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9.
Oliver is set to resume riding at the Geelong Synthetic track meeting on Friday after spending ten months on the sidelines following the betting scandal that rocked last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Bel Sprinter had promised Warren so much from day one and the Mornington trainer was rewarded with his first Group 1 victory when the Bel Esprit speedster scored an emphatic win in the $350,000 Canterbury BMW Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill during the Autumn Carnival earlier in the year.
The Moir Stakes is shaping up as a sprinter’s showcase with Group1 winners Samaready, Epaulette and Temple Of Boom as well as Snitzerland and Group 1 bridesmaid Buffering all being targeted for the weight for age dash around Moonee Valley.
Bel Sprinter is the winner of seven of his sixteen starts and has collected just over $880,000 in prizemoney.
