Plans to give Bel Sprinter a familiarisation gallop at Flemington ahead of the Newmarket Handicap have been scrapped after he suffered a minor leg injury in a stable accident.
Trainer Jason Warren is confident the star four-year-old will be able to compete in Saturday’s Group One 1200-metre sprint but will now work him at Mornington on Tuesday instead of Flemington.
Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey said a vet had been organised to check Bel Sprinter before and after his Mornington gallop.
Bel Sprinter took skin off his off-hind cannon on Sunday when he kicked a fence rail but according to the stable he trotted and cantered at Mornington on Monday without showing any discomfort.
Warren informed stewards he had treated the son of Bel Esprit with antibiotics for the injury.
Bel Sprinter remains $5 second favourite for the Newmarket behind topweight Hay List ($2.70).
Warren’s racing manager Simon Lavery said Bel Sprinter was on track for the Newmarket despite the injury.
“We are hoping it is superficial but being close to the race on Saturday we are just being cautious and letting everyone know,” Lavery said.
“At this stage he will be running on Saturday but we will have a good look at him tomorrow and see how he is Wednesday morning.”
Bel Sprinter was scheduled to gallop solo at Flemington on 7.30am but Lavery said it was easier to stay home.
“It is a shorter trip for the horse, in and out of his box,” Lavery said.
Lavery confirmed that Ben Melham, who has ridden Bel Sprinter every start, would again ride him in the Newmarket despite the gelding having only 52.5kg.
“Ben’s ridden the last two spring carnivals at 52-1/2 kilograms so he will make the weight,” Lavery said.
Bel Sprinter suffered only his second defeat in seven starts last Saturday week when he finished a luckless sixth to Woorim in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.
“The minute he jumped from the barrier he set a himself a task and didn’t have any luck when needing the runs,” Lavery said.
“He was climbing over heels for most of the last 400 metres but he pulled up well and I don’t think he lost too many admirers.”
Only two Flemington jump-outs down the straight are scheduled for Newmarket contenders on Tuesday with Foxwedge Mr Chard, Metallurgical and Albert The Fat engaged in one and Waratahs Secret, Toorak Toff, Rock Classic and Emerald Downs in the other.
AAP TURF
