Comeback galloper Bel Sprinter has joined the battle for the space which could be vacated by Black Caviar with a brilliant victory in the Group Three McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
A series of injuries had delayed Bel Sprinter’s return to racing, but he showed with his emphatic win he had fully recovered.
A series of injuries had delayed Bel Sprinter's return to racing, but he showed with his emphatic win he had fully recovered. - Photo by Sarah Ebbett
And with his time of 57.3secs – only 0.08secs outside the track record – Bel Sprinter also emerged as a likely contender for the title of the country’s top short-course specialist when Black Caviar retires from racing.
Bel Sprinter hadn’t raced since finishing ninth to Temple Of Boom in the Galaxy at Randwick in April and had been due to return late last month.
“He’s been right to go to the races for the past two weeks, but I just held off for this race,” said trainer Jason Warren.
During that time Warren and his team had worked on the horse’s manners, their efforts seemingly having rectified the horse’s poor barrier habits.
“We worked on everything, not just the barrier,” Warren said.
Bel Sprinter will be set for the Group One Manikato Stakes on Cox Plate eve, October 26, and will have one run in preparation at Flemington in three weeks.
“We’re going to the Manikato because Moonee Valley suits him so well,” Warren said.
“In between we’ll run at Flemington, even though it’s not his track.”
Bel Sprinter ($2.90) won the McEwen by a half-length from Platelet ($15) with a neck to Snitzem ($26) in third place.
