Brilliant Pinjarra-trained three-year-old Sprinter fared badly when he drew the outside barrier (No. 7) in the third heat of the Victoria Derby to be run over 2200m at Ballarat on Saturday night. However, harness racing trainer Gary Elson and reinsman Nathan Turvey have high hopes that Sprinter will qualify for the $200,000 final at Melton the following Saturday night.
Elson and Turvey will also have to contend with barrier No. 7 with Sprinter’s classy stablemate Ideal Tyson in the first heat of the classic.
Sprinter has won at his first two starts as a three-year-old, at Narrogin on December 9 and at Gloucester Park on January 1 when he worked hard without cover before finishing with great determination to snatch victory from the pacemaker Harry Hoo.
Sprinter warmed up for his Victorian mission with an outstanding win in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra last Sunday week when he beat Nathans Courage at a 1.55.9 rate, with the final two quarters in 28.3sec. and 27.7sec. Ideal Tyson also won a trail at a 1.58 rate later in the morning.
The New Zealand-bred Sprinter has raced 11 times for eight wins, two seconds and a third, with his victories including the group 2 Champagne Classic and the group 1 Golden Slipper as a two-year-old.
The Victorian-bred Ideal Tyson has had 11 starts for eight wins and three unplaced runs.
Among Sprinter’s rivals on Saturday night are Power of Red, who has won at five of his six starts, and last-start winner Soho Tribeca, who was bred and is owned by WA businessman Rob Watson.
Ideal Tyson will clash with sensational New Zealand colt Lazarus, who has earned $488,262 from ten wins and two placings from 12 starts.
Ken Casellas