Adam Durrant is bullish four-year-old Minsk Moment can give the G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) a big shake on Saturday, but has one major concern for his last start winner.
Minsk Moment has drawn barrier 11 in the Belmont Sprint and Adam Durrant believes the wide draw and the Belmont track could hinder his prospects of winning a second black-type race in Perth.
“Barrier 11 makes it tricky,” Durrant said on Tabradio.
“He’s a back marker traditionally anyway and probably doesn’t play much different to what he would have had if he had drawn a good barrier.
“The key is going to be how Belmont plays; it can traditionally be pretty on pace early in the season when you get the dry conditions and the nice fresh pad.
“Leaders can be pretty hard to reel in and that’s probably my biggest concern, whether or not he’s going to have to give away too much of a head start.
“He’s won with 60kg before in high grade and has raced very well fresh in the past.
“Everything is good in that regard, but how he maps could be a bit tricky for him.”
Previously in the care of champion trainer Chris Waller in Sydney, Minsk Moment made a dream start for Durrant when he won the Listed Carbine Stakes (1400m) first up at Ascot last November.
He also won the $100,000 Easingwold Stakes (1400m) at his previous start in January.
Minsk Moment resumes in the Belmont Sprint after an excellent trial behind Rokanori at Lark Hill last week.
Durrant says the son of I Am Invincible is perfectly poised for his next campaign of racing.
“He’s had a really good prep and has spelled well off the back of a pretty good little carnival through those lower grade stakes races,” Durrant said.
“I thought the trial couldn’t get any better, off a slow pace he really ran through the line strong.
“Fitness wise everything is where it needs to be and think 1400m and the mile is his sweet spot as well distance wise.”
Clint Johnston-Porter will ride Minsk Moment in the Belmont Sprint. He won last year’s race on God Has Chosen.
Durrant won the Belmont Sprint in 2020 when he prepared Perfect Jewel.
Tabtouch has Minsk Moment currently rated $11 after he opened at $13 on Thursday with betr.
Meanwhile Durrant says two-year-old Pin Deep, on debut in the Free Entry To Belmont Park Plate (1300m), can run third at worse and can win at best hopefully.
Durrant will also saddle up impressive last-start maiden winner First Encounter in the Crown Perth Handicap (1600m).
“He’s probably Bob’s (Peters) best youngster to come through and hopefully he works it out coming through the grades,” Durrant said.
“He’s well above average and it’s just whether the mind is where it needs to be at this stage.”
