Bel Sir aiming to go one better

BEL Sir will be aiming to go one better than last year in the Bridge Toyota Cup ($51,000) over a mile at Fannie Bay on Wednesday.

As dawn breaks over Fannie Bay Race Course training for the Darwin Cup Carnival is in full swing

BEL Sir will be aiming to go one better than last year in the Bridge Toyota Cup ($51,000) over a mile at Fannie Bay on Wednesday.

The Neil Dyer-trained six-year-old gelding was runner-up to Spartan Eagle last year and will be ridden by Jarrod Todd.

But the son of Bel Esprit is unlikely to have things all his own way in a keenly contested field.

Main rivals are expected to be the Gary Clarke-trained It’s Black Magic (Paul Shiers) and Roman Eye (Wayne Davis), who is a last start winner.

Igles Star (Felicia Bergstrand) and Enchanted Boy (Melanie Tyndall) will also be making their presences felt.

The other feature on the day is the Paspaley Rose Bowl ($30,500) for fillies and mares over 1300m.

Dyer’s Belle Ez (Jarrod Todd) looks a strong pick along with the Terry Huish-trained Artie’s Angel (Paul Shiers), who won the Queen of the Desert in Alice Springs.

Atlas Rising (Vanessa Arnott) is another that should not be overlooked while the Mark Nyhan-trained Daschem Halo (Jan Cameron) should not be discounted.

The Yellowglen Special Conditions sprint ($24,250) will also test the avid punter.

The Stephen Brown-trained Signal Fire and Corstons Beau (Paul Shiers) ran first and second last time out while another Brown horse, Eight Bills, has strong Victorian form and trialled well on the track last week.

It’s a step up in grade for Walkingaroundmoney (Barry Huppatz) but he could well be ready to impress.