A frustrating autumn is a distant memory for trainer Jason Warren who is brimming with enthusiasm as he prepares Bel Sprinter to fulfil his group one destiny.
The gelding was scratched from the Newmarket Handicap last autumn on race morning with a leg issue and came out of the barrierstoo slowly to be effective in the Galaxy in Sydney.
After a well-deserved break, Bel Sprinter is almost ready to return to the track with the news Black Caviar will miss the spring sprints an added bonus. "Everything went AWOL in the autumn," Warren said.
"He had an interrupted campaign and nothing went right.
"He's had a good break and has furnished into a lovely horse. He's back at the stable doing even time and getting ready to step up to a gallop."
Bel Sprinter will have a barrier trial at Cranbourne tomorrow week with a view to starting over 1000m at Moonee Valley on August 25.
"The Manikato is the race he is being set for," said Warren, who has added the Patinack Farm Classic to the programme now that dual winner Black Caviar won't be there.
The Manikato Stakes (1200m) will be run under lights at Moonee Valley on October 26, while the Patinack Farm over the same distance is on November 10 at Flemington.
Based on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Warren had mixed fortunes in two states on Saturday with 3-year-old Proper Madam out of the placings in the Inglis Bonus at Canterbury, while Moonee Valley specialist Freereturn made a comeback to winning form.
