Two Group One winners resuming from a spell shared the prize in the Caulfield Sprint on Saturday.
With contrasting racing styles, Bel Sprinter and Miracles Of Life could not be separated at the end of the 1100m Group Two sprint.
Miracles Of Life (Hugh Bowman) was up in the firing line for the majority of the race while Bel Sprinter (Ben Melham), who had began well, couldn’t muster the early speed and was with the tailenders turning for home.
Looking the winner with 100m to run, Miracles Of Life ($7) was grabbed right on the line to share the spoils with Bel Sprinter ($12).
Zac Purton, who picked up the ride aboard Shamal Wind ($6) was a short-head back in third place.
Jason Warren, who prepares Bel Sprinter, said it was great to see the “old-boy” back in winning form.
A combination of wet tracks and a throat operation had thwarted the sprinter since his Group One win in The Galaxy in Sydney last year.
“I’ve got to take my hat off to the guys at the Ballarat vet clinic who have done an amazing job on this horse’s throat,” Warren said.
“He’s had aggressive throat surgery a little while back and they’ve done a great job.”
Miracles Of Life was having her first start for the Peter and Paul Snowden stable at Randwick after having her first 12 starts for Daniel Clarken in South Australia.
With Muzaffar Yaseen cutting back on his racing and breeding operations, the winner of the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes was put through the sales ring following her last start in The Goodwood in Adelaide in May.
Stonestreet Stables picked up the mare and she was placed with the Snowden stable who prepared her for a first-up tilt.
“She was very brave as she always is,” Snowden said.
“It’s pretty hard to get these horses back to where they were at two but she gave it a big shot today.”
The two horses are likely to head in different directions during the Flemington carnival.
Bel Sprinter is heading to the Group One Darley Classic (1200m) on the final day of the carnival while Miracles Of Life is likely to be aimed at the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day, November 1.
