"Top colt Bel Esprit may back up again over 1400m at Caulfield on Sunday despite his narrow defeat in the 1200m Manikato Stakes last Saturday.

Trainer John Symons says he will nominate Bel Esprit for the $3511,000 Group 1 Dubai Racing Club Cup and the Group 3 Guineas Prelude, worth $200,750.

He said Bel Esprit had pulled up well from Saturday and he will discuss the situation with owners before confirming a start in one of the event. His preference was for the Dubai Cup.

Symons said that he would recommend that Scott Seamer retained the mount despite criticism from some quarters that he “went too early” when beaten into second place in the Manikato. Symons said that Seamer, who was having his first race ride on Bel Esprit, may not have realised how fast the horse was travelling, and would learn from the experience."

That news comes from Ozeform.
I think John Symons is being unrealistic if he expects Bel Esprit to handle 1400m when the 1200m took such a toll. Yes Seamer may have gone a shade early in the race, but even Richard Freedman said Bel Esprit would be a bad bet at 1400m.

What does everyone else think ?

I just thought that the last 100 - 150m of the run the horse definitely had the staggers to the point of being a spent force. If I were the trainer I'd be looking for another 1200m or even shorter race, but maybe there is nothing that short available worth the prizemoney without sacrificing a huge weight handicap.

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Treat your selection and staking methods not with optimism, nor with pessimism, but with realism.