Bell holding the faith in Sirbible’s speed

For a horse who has made marathon trips between Alice Springs and Melbourne, Sirbible’s trip from country Victoria to NSW for a stakes race must have seemed like a drive around the corner.

After running midfield in his last start at Moonee Valley on November 26, trainer Russell Bell made the decision to send Sirbible from his Colac stables to Hawkesbury to prepare for Saturday’s Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.

The Victorian-born Bell spent six years based in Alice Springs where Sirbible carved out a name for himself as a talented sprinter.

The gelding, who gets his name from his sire God’s Own, has won races in Darwin, Adelaide and Melbourne and went back to the red centre to win again in April.

“The travel doesn’t worry him and he’s been up there for a couple of weeks so he’s settled in,” Bell said.

“He’s been on the water walker, he’s put on a bit of weight and his gallop on Saturday at Hawkesbury was pretty good.”

Sirbible will be Bell’s first Sydney runner, a little more than three months after he moved back to his home state where he now has 15 horses in work.

The now five-year-old was placed in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day and got his shot at a Group One in the Goodwood in May in which he beat one runner home.

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He has won 11 races from 26 starts and earned a shade under $270,000. Not a bad effort for a $5500 yearling.

“He’s been a great horse and he hasn’t finished yet either,” Bell said.

“I’ve always said he’ll get better with time. He seems to be matured now.

“He’ll get better as he goes through this prep too I think.”

After Saturday, Sirbible will head to the $150,000 Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m) on New Year’s Eve.

Robbie Brewer will make a rare appearance at a metropolitan meeting on Sirbible who he has been riding in trackwork at Hawkesbury.

“He’s the sort of horse that you want somebody on who knows him,” Bell said.

“Robbie probably doesn’t get too many opportunities in town but he’s the right bloke for the job.”