An underweight Bel Sprinter will be given a longer break than normal to get back to peak fitness after his recent trip to Perth.

The Group One winner was sent west for the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 22 but he could only manage seventh.

He is now back in Victoria at trainer Jason Warren’s Mornington property and will not be rushed back into work.

Warren said his priority was for Bel Sprinter to put on weight before the trainer set firm autumn goals.

“I just want to get some weight back on him first,” Warren said.

“He got to Perth and was 15 kilos lighter than what he needed to be and by the time he got home he was another 10 to 15 kilos lighter than he should be.

“As soon as his weight is back to normal then he will start work.”

Warren said there was plenty of “knee high” grass on his property for Bel Sprinter to enjoy in his break.

While not locked in to a date to kick off his campaign, Warren said he would like to tackle an 1100m handicap race first-up with the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield or The Galaxy at Rosehill the preferred options.

“It will be either one of those races I would hope,” Warren said.

“The horse will be trained for a first-up result like we did this prep.

“He’s dynamite first-up so we’ll work to our strengths and try and get a bit more money in the bank.”

Bel Sprinter dead-heated with Miracles Of Life in the Schillaci Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield on October 18 first-up last campaign.

The seven-year-old has a history of missing the start in his races and has also undergone throat surgery twice.

He was at his best in the autumn of 2013, winning the Group One Galaxy before running third to Black Caviar in the TJ Smith and second to Lucky Nine in the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au