Trainer Jason Warren will be racking up the frequent flyer miles this week ahead of Bel Sprinter’s bid for a second Group One win.
The Victorian trainer is in New Zealand attending the Ready To Run Sale in Auckland and will fly to Perth on Friday to see Bel Sprinter contest the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot the following day.
Bel Sprinter was among a contingent of eastern states horses flown to Perth on Friday and Warren said the gelding had done everything right since his arrival.
“I’m really happy with him,” Warren said.
“He had his final gallop last Thursday before he left.
“He will just have a bit of striding work on Wednesday which will pretty much be him until the race.”
The winner of the 2013 Galaxy, Bel Sprinter recorded his first win in almost 18 months when he shared the prize with Miracles Of Life in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint on October 18 before finishing sixth to Deep Field at Flemington on November 1.
Standing flat footed in the gates, Bel Sprinter missed the start by five lengths before losing his near fore shoe in the final stages of the Group Two tab.com.au.
“He threw a shoe off on Derby Day in the last couple of hundred metres which shortened his stride a bit,” Warren said.
“His late sectionals were excellent after missing the start and his foot is fine now.”
With Warren happy with Bel Sprinter’s condition in the lead-up to the Winterbottom, the trainer is looking for a middle to outside draw.
At Caulfield Bel Sprinter was buried away on the inside before rattling home to share the prize and Warren wants clear galloping room for the gelding on Saturday.
“Ideally I don’t want to see anything inside of five or six,” he said.
Warren and his staff have been hard at work putting the “babies” through their paces in the lead-up to the new year and the trainer says he has nice crop of two-year-olds gearing towards the Blue Diamond Series that kicks off at the end of January.
He also said Bel Rain, the young brother of Bel Sprinter won his debut at Geelong track in April, would have a jump-out on Wednesday in preparation for a return to racing in about four weeks.
