Bel Sprinter might have run second to Lucky Nine in the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore but trainer Jason Warren is still justifiably proud of the way he represented Australia.
The Caspar Fownes-trained Lucky Nine gave Hong Kong-trained horses the first of the two major races on Sunday with Military Attack an equally impressive winner of the Singapore Airlines International Cup for ex-pat Australian John Moore.
Bel Sprinter winning the United Arab Emirates Stakes at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Hugh Bowman rode at Scone on Saturday then travelled to Singapore to ride Bel Sprinter, winner of the Group One Galaxy in March.
“He copped one hell of a bump on the home turn,” Bowman said.
“It may not have been the difference between winning and losing but he should have been closer.”
Warren plans to bring Bel Sprinter home to be prepared for the early sprints in Melbourne with an eye to the Hong Kong International day in December.
“It got a bit rough around the corner, but he still did a super job to run second,” Warren said.
“I thought he hit the line enormous. I’m very proud of him.”
Fownes, who won the KrisFlyer three years ago with Green Birdie, said he would also aim Lucky Nine at the Hong Kong Sprint.
Bowman was also aboard Australia’s other representative, Mawingo, who finished third in the Cup.
Mawingo was trained by Anthony Freedman to win the 2012 Doomben Cup and will remain with his brother Michael to do his future racing in Singapore.
Although Australian horses didn’t win the feature races, Hong Kong-based Australian jockeys were to the fore with Brett Prebble riding Lucky Nine and Zac Purton steering Military Attack.
