Quality Perth based entire Single Warrior could head east chasing soft tracks following a gutsy win at Belmont yesterday.

At his ninth run in the campaign, Single Warrior fought back under talented apprentice Michael Grantham to beat the veteran Kenbon by a short head.

Single Warrior is prepared for owner Neven Botica by dual state horseman Tony Noonan. He purchased him from the draft of Greenfields Lodge for $26,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Noonan’s stable foreman Nick Cox was impressed with the victory after a lengthy campaign.

“He’s done a terrific job this horse,” Cox said. “He was a bit unlucky last time out and we’d had just enough rain for this track – it’s his go.”

“He needs to be able to get into it (the track) a bit.”

“Michael gave him a great ride,” he added. “His one instruction was to get cover.”

“It’s a bit hard taking P Harvey off them and putting a kid on, but Michael is going pretty well and he’s done a good job.”

“For a colt he is pretty keen on his racing,” Cox said of Single Warrior. “He’s won three races this time in and possibly could have won four or five. He’s done a great job.”

“I think Melbourne would suit him. Those Sandown races during the week – on those heavy 9 and 10s – he’d just eat that ground up.”

“I say at some stage he might end up in Melbourne,” Cox added.

In the interim the four-year-old entire will most likely have at least one more run in Perth before a break.

“We might look for a Saturday race over a mile or 2000 metres in a couple of weeks time and hope for some rain.”

Single Warrior is the first runner for his dam – the twice New Zealand based winning British Banker mare British Version.

She in turn is from the True Version mare Lady Version – a three quarter sister to the twice Group One winning sire Lord Ballina.

Duelled, the sire of Single Warrior, was a former high class Magic Millions graduate who won the AAMI Vase and was narrowly beaten in the VRC Derby at Flemington.

As a sire he is quickly making his mark with his highlight performer to date the high class (now) four-year-old Shootoff – a multiple stakes winner who’s most recent preparation rounded out with success in the Group One Queensland Derby.

Winner: Single Warrior
Breeding: Duelled-British Version (British Banker)
Race: WATC Racingjobs.com.au Handicap (1650m)
Sold for: $26,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Greenfields Lodge
Buyer: Tony Noonan
Earnings: $36,795
Owner(s): Botsky Pty Ltd Syndicate (Mgr: NN Botica)
Trainer: Tony Noonan (Ascot)

PICS – Damien Wyer.