Trainer Robbie Griffiths is counting on the fighting spirit of Happy Glen to get him over the line when he kicks off his summer campaign at Moonee Valley.With the onset of heavy tracks this spring and the emergence of a band of top grade sprinters spearheaded by Black Caviar and Hay List, Griffiths has delayed Happy Glen's return until Saturday's TAB iPhone App Handicap (1000m).Griffiths said that after one trial Happy Glen was ready to go to the races but he had a lot of improvement in him and
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is counting on the fighting spirit of Happy Glen to get him over the line when he kicks off his summer campaign at Moonee Valley.
With the onset of heavy tracks this spring and the emergence of a band of top grade sprinters spearheaded by Black Caviar and Hay List, Griffiths has delayed Happy Glen's return until Saturday's TAB iPhone App Handicap (1000m).
Griffiths said that after one trial Happy Glen was ready to go to the races but he had a lot of improvement in him and would not get near his peak until next month.
"He's in good order but is a bit older and a bit tubbier so whatever happens on Saturday, he will improve," Griffith said.
He said feature summer sprints, including the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year's Day, were on his mission sheet before the better sprinters again arrive on the scene.
"He doesn't like the sting out of the track so this spring it has been a bit of a washout for him," Griffiths said.
"Really we had nowhere to go with him until the tracks dried out.
"He's only had one trial because some of the trials were washed out so he is still a bit soft, but I still think he will be competitive."
"He's a good old horse, drawn well (barrier two) and is going to get a good run.
"It is just question of whether he is fit enough to win."
Last spring Happy Glen was Group Two-placed when third to First Command in the Caulfield Sprint (1200m) while his last of eight wins was at Caulfield in April last year.
TAB Sportsbet has Happy Glen at $10 but he has won six races by a head or less, indicative of his tenacity in a contest.
Last start Bendigo winner Esprit De Bullet is the pre-post $4.40 favourite at the Valley but he needs two scratchings to get a start as the second emergency.
Solchow is $5.50 to bounce back from his last-start tail-end finish at Flemington while Waltzes ($8) and Commanding Hope ($9), who is resuming, are others in the market.
Meanwhile, Tony Parker is expecting another big run from Command Prince in the Valley Events Handicap (2040m).
The seven-year-old was a 0-89 Caulfield winner two years ago and is up against 0-82 horses on Saturday after recently recapturing his best form with a barnstorming finish over 1503 metres on Geelong Cup day.
Parker said that last start Command Prince gave away too big start when beaten 1-1/4 lengths finishing fourth to Yokozuna in the Ballan Cup (1512m) at Geelong.
Apprentice Jake Noonan will ride Command Prince, who will carry 57kg after the claim in an open betting race.
"He should run well again," Parker said.
Command Prince is $6 equal second favourite with Robdon Flyer while Cosmocrat heads the market at $5.
Tamanu Park, Sweet Talking Guy and Tio Rossa and also fancied at $6.50.