If history is any guide then master horseman Fred Kersley has another good chance to take out the Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont on Saturday.
Kersley is the most successful trainer of the Belmont Sprint, having won the Group 3 feature with Dynamor (1993), Marasco (2008) and Grand Nirvana (2010-11).
Kersley’s hopes for a fifth Belmont Sprint rests with Lite’n In My Veins and Divine Calling. The two horses need to bounce back after last fortnight’s Roma Cup (1200m).
Both combatants settled back and never threatened the winner, Rock Magic, with Divine Magic finishing 11th and Lite’n In My Veins placed 13th in the field of 16.
But Kersley has ruled a line through the runs and believes aside from Rock Magic there was little separating the remainder of the Roma Cup field.
“There were very few apart from the winner who made up ground,” Kersley said on TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“So there really wasn’t a lot between the remainder of the horses.
“Also on the day the track was a little bit sticky and rain affected.
“I think you more or less have to forget the form out of the race.”
Divine Calling has drawn barrier two. The million dollar stake earner will be ridden by in-form jockey, Shaun McGruddy.
Lite’n In My Veins, who won the Listed Birthday Stakes (1200m) at Belmont last October, will start from barrier six for Steven Parnham.
Meanwhile co-trainer Todd Harvey is confident his talented gelding Tradesman is primed to run a bold first-up race in the Belmont Sprint.
After two trials Tradesman returns to the race track after running third to Star Exhibit in last December’s Perth Cup (2400m).
“He is coming off two solid hit outs and is as good as we are going to have him,” Harvey said.
“I think he is a genuine group horse who is honest and always thereabouts.
“I think he is going as good as last time in if not a little bit better.
“He won last time first up over 1400m beating Scales Of Justice.
“Taking a line through that form it gives him a chance.
“He goes really well fresh and we’ve primed him for this race first up.
“We wanted him cherry ripe and we are looking forward to Saturday.”
Tradesman has drawn ideally in barrier four. Troy Turner takes the mount.
Exciting four-year-old Scales Of Justice has drawn the widest gate in the field of 12, but he is the best horse in the race and will be hard to beat.
The Lindsey Smith-trained stallion makes his much anticipated return to racing after his Group 1 victory in the Railway Stakes (1600m) in November.
Julio Santarelli