Bel Sprinter claims overdue feature win

Saturday 30 March 2013, 4:30pm

Laughter and tears greeted the win of Bel Sprinter on Saturday after the gelding finally fulfilled his Group One destiny at Rosehill.

Trainer Jason Warren thought he was watching a re-run of the 2012 Galaxy (1100m) when Bel Sprinter ($10) bungled the start and came out last.

But unlike last year when he finished ninth, Bel Sprinter found his rhythm and rounded up the favourite Snitzerland ($3.70) who looked the winner halfway down the straight.

Bel Sprinter increased his margin as he raced to the line for a 3-1/4 length victory with Decision Time ($17) another 1-1/4 lengths third.

"I know how good he is," Warren said.

"But he has been very frustrating at times.

"I wasn't too worried at the start because he does that all the time.

"It's just such a relief because he has had a lot of problems but he has always shown that he is capable of this."

The five-year-old's career has been restricted to just 14 starts by a series of problems including his latest which required a throat operation.

In his favour on Saturday was his impeccable first-up record which he extended to five from five in the Galaxy.

Warren trains at Mornington in Victoria but was quick to claim his NSW roots after his first Group One win.

"I'm a New South Wales boy originally from Bega and I moved down to Victoria to train," he said.

"It's great to bring this horse here and win."

Bel Sprinter's jockey Kerrin McEvoy didn't panic at the start.

"He has had his barrier troubles and fluffed it a bit again," McEvoy said.

"They ran along and I knew at the 600 (metres) I had plenty of horse under me. He just exploded and was solid to the line.

"In such a quality race I went out there hoping, but he just put the race to bed in a hundred yards."

Snitzerland's rider Corey Brown said he thought he had the race won.

"She was great and I thought nothing was going to beat me at the 300," he said.

"I haven't had one go past that quick in a big race like that."

Snitzerland's trainer Gerald Ryan had been critical of the weights all week and reiterated his stance after the race.

"He's a five-year-old gelding carrying the same weight as three-year-old filly," he said.

"She went really well but they need to get the handicaps right."

While the trip to Sydney brought joy to the Bel Sprinter camp, it was disastrous for a couple of other visitors who gained starts as emergencies.

Unpretentious, who gained a run with the scratching of topweight Hay List, was withdrawn after rearing up in the barrier.

Isabella Snowflake, who got in when Adebisi stayed home in Brisbane, suffered a serious tendon injury when she was galloped on early in the race.

– AAP

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