Trained by John Symons, the bargain buy has two wins from as many starts and both victories were in comprehensive style.

On debut the son of Royal Academy spaced his rivals, never getting out of first gear, in taking the Pierre Fontaine Trophy at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day last year.

Next out the Sydney Classic Yearling Sale purchase scored an equally impressive win in the Group Two Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Wayne Treloar, a regular rider for Symons' Macedon Lodge stables, has been aboard at both runs and will again partner the colt tomorrow.

Part owned by long time Essendon AFL coach Kevin Sheedy, Bel Esprit is expected to start as short as 2/1 on in the Group Three event.

Leading New South Wales trainer Clarry Conners will be hoping his double raiding team from Sydney - Tom Coureuse and Restore - can both prove more than competitve.

Tom Coureuse, a colt by Beautiful Crown, scored a widening one length win at Rosehill in October last year, a fortnight after running second on debut at Randwick beaten by the boom Waterhouse trained two-year-old Snowland.

Debut winner Restore, a New Zealand bred juvenile by Pompeii Court, completes the Conners duo. His Warwick Farm win in November was very impressive.

PICS - Quentin Lang

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