Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths is hopeful that lightly-raced four-year-old Beltrois can step up and fill a void with for the stable in the major sprints this summer.Eight-year-old Cocinero, who has been a tough summer sprint campaigner over several seasons, broke down this month and will be off the scene for 12 months giving Beltrois an opportunity to make his mark in the coming weeks.The Bel Esprit four-year-old will launch his campaign as one of the lightweights in Saturday's Sportingbet

Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths is hopeful that lightly-raced four-year-old Beltrois can step up and fill a void with for the stable in the major sprints this summer.

Eight-year-old Cocinero, who has been a tough summer sprint campaigner over several seasons, broke down this month and will be off the scene for 12 months giving Beltrois an opportunity to make his mark in the coming weeks.

The Bel Esprit four-year-old will launch his campaign as one of the lightweights in Saturday's Sportingbet Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley as a means of giving the gelding a platform for the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year's Day.

"He is going to be an interesting runner to watch on Saturday," Griffiths said.

"He has worked very well and trialled well but his coat is not quite through yet.

"He is going to improve with the run but he is a lovely horse and I'm hoping he can go well because I want to aim him towards the Standish."

Cocinero finished third to Watchyerback at his only run in the Standish when it was run at Caulfield in 2007.

He won the Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day that year and last year finished seventh in the same event.

Griffiths said Beltrois' campaign was being timed so that the Standish would be his third run this preparation.

"Whatever he does on Saturday will be a bonus and then he will run at Flemington in a race in mid-December," Griffiths said.

Beltrois has raced eight times and at his only Flemington appearance he was beaten in a photo-finish by Bertonic in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Handicap (1100m) on July 4.

He won his next two starts at Sale and Moonee Valley before being spelled while his other victory was at Stony Creek in January.

Beltrois has drawn awkwardly in barrier 13 at the Valley but will be ridden by Glen Boss who only a month ago won the Cox Plate on So You Think at the Valley.

The Peter Snowden-trained Posadas, the 59.5kg topweight, will provide a good test for Beltrois who has 6.5kg less.

Posadas was a Caulfield winner last campaign and after winning at Rosehill last month ran Lucky Secret to less than a length when second in the Listed Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown two weeks ago.

Griffiths' other likely summer sprint contender is Happy Glen who was twice stakes-placed in the spring, when third to First Command in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint and third to Burdekin Blues in the Listed Grazia Ultimate Style Guide Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Oaks day.