 Outstanding Victorian colt Bel Esprit
"couldn't be better" according to trainer John Symons in the lead up to Saturday
week's Group 1 $2.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.The unbeaten colt, who earned a barrier certificate with a twelve length trial
win at Bendigo last Thursday, arrived in Sydney on Monday.
"He is stabled at Rosehill and has settled in
well," Symons told Sport 927 this morning.
"We had a five hour break on the trip and he
completely ate a feed and then when we arrived he again licked his feed bin clean."
Symons said he is stabled on the track at Rosehill, the
venue for the colt's next start.
 "We've got a barn to ourselves and he'll had
a hit out on the course proper tomorrow morning," Symons added.
Bel Esprit's regular track and race rider, the veteran
Wayne "Smokey" Treloar, is also in Sydney with the colt, while a "couple of
Bel Esprit's (four legged) mates" are keeping him company in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Symons has also applied to Stewards to gain
approval to use a stallion lead for the Slipper.
Chief Steward Ray Murrihy has confirmed he received the
application and would be meeting with the Sydney starter but is quoted as saying he's
"confident it will be all systems go" for the Slipper.
Currently Bel Esprit is near the top of betting along with
boom Newcastle colt Choisir, a Paul Perry trained galloper.
Leading Melbourne bookmaker Michael Eskander has Choisir
rated as a $3 favourite ahead of Bel Esprit ($4), Snowland ($5) and Victory Vein ($7).
PICS - Quentin
Lang. |
