It’s been more than two years since Sniper’s Bullet tasted victory but a slashing third in the Canterbury Classic has connections hopeful another stakes success is achievable.
The multiple Group One winner could easily have been retired six months ago but trainer Tracey Bartley has changed a few things around with the result of the gelding’s return at Canterbury on Friday.
Having his first start since July over the unsuitable 1100 metres of the Listed Canterbury Classic, the 2007 Stradbroke Handicap winner hit the line with gusto from the tail of the field to sneak into the minor placings behind Unanimously and Eight Bills.
It was the type of performance Bartley had hoped to see and it confirmed the gelding still had something to offer on the racetrack.
Bartley is now eyeing the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) at weight-for-age at Rosehill on February 11.
“That’s what I wanted to see. He needed to find the line,” Bartley said.
“We’ve done a couple of things differently with him so we might get him back.”
Sniper’s Bullet missed the spring carnival and another trip to Perth for the summer features in the west.
Bartley said he had been giving his stable star a lot of swimming this time around and they also had the gelding’s hocks injected.
“He pulled up terrific from Friday night,” Bartley said.
“He’ll probably go to the Expressway now. That gives me three weeks to keep him nice and fresh again. I’ll just keep swimming him.”
Sniper’s Bullet hit the top level in 2007 with his Stradbroke success as a three-year-old.
He has raced at the top level each season since and also scored back-to-back Group One wins in Perth in late 2009 in the Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Classic.
Christian Reith had never been on the evergreen gelding before Friday night’s encounter but can’t wait for another chance.
“He ran fantastic. There’s some life in the old fella’s legs yet, Reith said.
“They (connections) didn’t know what to expect going into the race but he attacked the line like a tiger.
“It’s the first time I’ve ridden him but I get another chance in the Expressway and I’m looking forward to getting on his back again.”
Sniper’s Bullet has earned more than $2.6 million in his 51 start career which began in June 2006 with victory in a two-year-old race at Dubbo.
AAP TURF
