Mudgee trainer Tracey Bartley fears Sniper's Bullet will be at his most vulnerable for this year's winter carnival when he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph at Eagle Farm.Sniper's Bullet landed his biggest success in the 2007 Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) as a three-year-old but after failing to defend the title last year he's back again to run in Saturday's Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (1200m).Bartley sent Sniper's Bullet and his younger brother Slick Sniper to the Gold Co

Mudgee trainer Tracey Bartley fears Sniper's Bullet will be at his most vulnerable for this year's winter carnival when he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph at Eagle Farm.

Sniper's Bullet landed his biggest success in the 2007 Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) as a three-year-old but after failing to defend the title last year he's back again to run in Saturday's Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (1200m).

Bartley sent Sniper's Bullet and his younger brother Slick Sniper to the Gold Coast this week after the pair worked at Mudgee last Sunday.

But Bartley wasn't entirely happy with their track gallop before being loaded onto the float north.

"They worked well over 1000 metres but I would have preferred it if they went a little harder," Bartley said.

"I'm a little worried the gallop may have left Sniper's Bullet a bit soft.

"I usually trial him and go first-up over 1300 or 1400 metres but I didn't go that way this time because it's only 1200 metres on Saturday and I wanted him to ping more."

Bartley couldn't be happier with Sniper's Bullet's appearance for his first start since failing in the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 20.

The five-year-old lost a plate in the Villiers and finished in front of only one runner in the race won by Something Anything.

The loss came after a late spring campaign encompassing Melbourne and Perth.

Sniper's Bullet was beaten in a photo when an unlucky second to Gilded Venom in the Group One Railway Stakes at Ascot before finishing third to Niconero in the Group One Kingston Town.

Bartley expects the Sir Byrne Hart will be run at a solid tempo with several genuine leaders in Swiss Ace, Tour Guide and Rasmussen lining up.

"Obviously, there's going to be a lot of speed on and I would prefer them to go hard in front," he said.

"He had a great preparation last year after winning the Stradbroke as a three-year-old when he wasn't really ready.

"I'm hoping this run will sharpen him up for the BTC Cup and I want him to be spot-on for the Doomben 10,000."

Meanwhile, old warrior Black Ink will be ridden by Shane Scriven in the Sir Byrne Hart as he bids to end a three-year losing streak.

Black Ink has started 50 times in his career for nine wins and 18 placings but hasn't been successful since he won on a heavy track in the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Doomben on March 4, 2006.

The eight-year-old, who is again targeting the major winter sprints, went close to breaking his drought last start when narrowly beaten by Mr Hornblower over 1100 metres at Doomben last month.

"He's a great old horse and he'll do his best as usual," trainer Les Kelly said.

"He has been working well and he's improved a lot since he was beaten by Mr Hornblower."

Black Ink has competed in the past three Stradbroke Handicaps (1400m), finishing fifth in 2006, seventh in 2007 and sixth last year.