PROGRESSIVE sprinter Office Bearer, winner of today’s Listed Bel Esprit Stakes at Sportingbet Park, is likely to head to South Australia in search of Group 1 glory in The Goodwood, reports Racing Network. Jeff O’Connor, stable manager for Pete Moody, said the Adelaide Group 1 on May 10 would be suitable for Office Bearer as well as stablemate Ready To Rip, which ran fourth. O’Connor said Office Bearer, a winner of five of his 10 starts, always had an “x-factor” about him. “That win might get him into The Goodwood with a realistic chance, anything like that would be a good option for him,” O’Connor said. “I think both he and Ready To Rip could progress to a race like The Goodwood.” Office Bearer, $9, finished strongly to win by one and a half lengths from Go The Knuckle, $8, with one and three-quarter lengths to Happy Galaxy, $20, third. Linda Meech said Office Bearer had always held his own against quality opposition so it was fitting that he secure a Listed Race victory. Meech said what made the win even more meritorious was that Office Bearer jumped in the air when the gates opened and was then posted wide “I didn’t want to panic and go charging off to the front and I didn’t want to drag him back. I sucked it up and hoped nothing would catch me,” Meech said.