Apart from baulking at a barrier attendent when he first arrived at the barriers, there were no problems for Bel Esprit when he walked into the barrier without erring with the assistance of a chain over the nuzzle.

Trainer John Symons said he was always confident the Royal Academy colt would cause no problems in today's final Golden Slipper test.

"I had no doubts he would go in the barriers, we were always calm and he's come through today in great shape," Symons said.

When the barriers opened in the 800 metre trial Bel Esprit sat third, just off the two pacesetters, in a field of four.

Jockey Wayne Treloar then released the reins a fraction at the top of the straight and the unbeaten youngster then cruised past his rivals in sensational style.

At the post Bel Esprit's margin was about 15 lengths and widening at each stride.

"Wayne was asked to give him an easy time in the first few hundred metres before letting him roll from the top of the home straight," Symons added.

Bel Esprit, who cost Symons just $9,000 as a yearling in Sydney last year, has started in five stakes races and won the lot.

The colt is expected to travel to Sydney "over the weekend" in preparation for the Golden Slipper, which will be run at Rosehill Gardens on March 23.

Symons and Treloar were in the Sydney area yesterday searching for a suitable location to stable and base the colt during his Slipper bid.

Part owned by Essendon AFL coach Kevin Sheedy and Macedon Lodge's owned Kurt Stern, Bel Esprit is at the top of betting for the race along with Sydney's star youngster Chosir.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

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