Victorian trainer Jason Warren remains upbeat about Bel Sprinter's prospects

Victorian trainer Jason Warren remains upbeat about Bel Sprinter's prospects in Sunday's Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint despite his charge drawing barrier 10 in a field of 11 in the Singapore leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, reports Steve Moran.

"I'm more than happy (for him) to be out there. He'll be loaded late which is a plus and they tell me there's plenty of speed so he'll be likely to settle back in any case," Warren said. 

Local sprinters Emerald Hill, Goal Keeper and Mr Big are the likely go forward runners and given that they've drawn 11, 8 and 7 respectively it's hard to imagine that the KrisFlyer will be run at anything other than a fast tempo. 

"Hopefully he can run over the top of them like he did in the Galaxy," said Warren who plans to have the horse a 'fraction underdone' for Sunday's assignment. 

"That's where he is at the moment and where I'd like to have him fresh. He'll only trot and canter over the next couple of mornings. He's never been beaten fresh and I'm happy to have him fresh for Sunday," he said. 

Bel Sprinter, this morning, worked at three-quarter pace from the 800 metres on the outside rail of the polytrack. He was timed to run his last 600m in 41.4 seconds.

“We didn't want him to do any more than that; it was just a light workout,” Warren said. 

The five-year-old did sweat up under saddle this morning but is handling the humidity well enough according to the stable.

“He's usually a free sweater so that's no great concern and he, felt good,” said Carley Thomas who has looked after the horse since day one at Warren's stable.

“The heat hasn't affected his appetite, he's licked the bin out here.

“He ate up well in Sydney but he's done even better here.”

Warren said that Bel Sprinter would return to Melbourne - 'win, lose or draw' - after his Singapore assignment. 'He won't go to England. He's a gelding and there's no attraction for me to take him there. There's better prizemoney to be won in Melbourne and, in the absence of Black Caviar, that's the logical move. 

"We'd look at the Manikato Stakes and probably a run either side of that and, all being well, head to Hong Kong in December," he said. 

Australian Michael Freedman, now training in Singapore, will be represented by Super Easy and Mr Big in the KrisFlyer. His pair ran one-two in the recent Lion City Cup in Singapore with Super Easy recording his 14th career win. 

Freedman was satisfied with drawing 6 and 7 for his two sprinters with Super Easy one slot nearer the inside. 'I'm usually a shocker at these barrier draws but it was OK today. Both horses are fine from their respective draws. The pace looks good enough if some of the locals take up their customary roles and my two should get every chance,' Freedman said. 

Corey Brown, now based in Singapore before his intended July move to France, will ride Mr Big while Joao Morreira steers Super Easy. Glyn Schofield and High Bowman fly in from Sydney to ride Kavanagh and Bel Sprinter respectively while ex-pat Danny Beasley rides Goal Keeper and Hong Kong based Brett Prebble is aboard Lucky Nine. 

Hong Kong based Australian trainer John Moore fared best of the visitors when it came to the draw for the Singapore Airlines International Cup with his APQEII Cup winner Military Attack drawing barrier four and his Champions Mile winner Dan Excel snaring gate one. 

"It's a dream really. I'm ecstatic. I wanted them to both draw in. They can go forward and make their own luck and I'm sure they're both great chances," Moore said. 

The 2011 Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, who's since performed well at Gr 1 level in Hong Kong, Dubai and Japan, drew the middle pin gate seven in the Cup field of 13. 

"That's perfect," said trainer Ed Dunlop's assistant Robin Trevor-Jones, "somewhere between four and nine was what I was looking for. Anywhere around there was going to suit me. That's where the winners usually draw in this race." The past four winners of the Cup have, indeed, drawn between four and nine. 

Four of the past five winners of the KrisFlyer have drawn 3 or better but Rocket Man did overcome barrier nine to win in 2011.