Rejuvenated sprinter Esprit De Bullet is ready to fire in a rescheduled program in the Listed $120,000 W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Esprit De Bullet returning to scale after Flemington win. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Morphettville trainer John Hyam had to bring forward Esprit De Bullet’s Autumn Carnival starting point after the eight year old was showing signs that he was ready to race after a short freshened up.
Hyam had planned for Esprit De Bullet to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15 following a short ease up after winning over 1000m at Flemington in December 21.
But jockey Jason Holder told the trainer that the gelding was ready to race after riding him in a track gallop two weeks ago.
“After Flemington we tipped him in the paddock for a week then put him on the treadmill for a week and brought him back and he actually came up too quick, so I thought we better give him a run first,” Hyam said.
“A couple of weeks ago he had a gallop and Jason Holder rode him and he said, ‘he’s flying, when’s he racing?’ and I told him he was still four weeks away but he said he’d be ready quicker than that. That’s when we found this race for him.”
Hyam has done a terrific with Esprit De Bullet who came to his Adelaide stable after undergoing three throat operations and has collected seven wins with the veteran sprinter.
Even though Hyam thinks Espirt De Bullet is going as good as ever, he has a query about the eight year old handling Caulfield after being unplaced from three attempts on the tricky track.
“I’ve got a bit of a query on him around Caulfield,” Hyam said.
“This looks a really nice race for him. He’s probably going the best he’s ever been going and with the speed in the race it should be perfect for him.”
Jockey Vlad Duric will be back aboard Esprit De Bullet on Saturday after winning at his last two rides on him and is certain to give him every chance from barrier four in the thirteen horse field.
Last start Flemington winner General Truce has drawn the rails while Robbie Laing’s improving sprinter Lord Of The Sky is stepping up to Listed class for the first time following a six and a half lengths win at Caulfield, his third over this course and distance.
While African Pulse from the Mike Moroney stable is also unbeaten over the 1000m at Caulfield with two wind from two attempts and will jump from gate three with Damien Oliver to ride.
