Bel Esprit Winners Club

New site belesprit09

2009-10-15T20:56:00.002+11:00

Due to problems I have connecting to this site, I now have a new site (all the stories on this site have been transferred)

the new site is
http://belesprit09.wordpress.com/

Hangang Ruby 11/10/09

2009-10-12T20:46:00.002+11:00

A Ruby in South Korea
I received an email to say that Hangang Ruby won his third race from four starts, he finished second in the other. Today he won by two and a half lengths
This Bel Esprit has now won 71,500,000.00 KRW=$67,618.69 AUD

11/10/2009
Hangang Ruby (KOR) 2006
(C. by Bel Esprit-Shirley's Luvena)
1st Busan Domestic class D3, K$44000000 1200m earning K$25080000

Esprit Lad 11/10/09

2009-10-11T08:10:00.005+11:00

Farmer to salute with comeback galloper at Coonamble
RacenetSaturday, 10 October 2009
Walgett farmer and hobby trainer Richard Jackson credits the wonders of modern science - stem cell surgery to be exact - and lengthy rehabilitation for enabling talented sprinter Esprit Lad’s racetrack return.
On Coonamble Cup day, Sunday, Esprit Lad continues his comeback in the $15,000 Keady Family Open (1100m). The five-year-old has drawn barrier one and will be ridden by Dale Spriggs.
ps He led all the way, won by a nose and took his earnings to $52,800 from his six wins (five placings) from seventeen starts
The Open, secondary feature to the $30,000 Coonamble Cellars & Sky Channel Coonamble Cup (1600m), represents an important stepping stone for Esprit Lad.
After winning at Narromine in August last year, the gelding suffered a tendon injury that threatened his future.
“He had stem cell surgery and we gave him a lengthy rehabilitation, 13 months away from racing,” Jackson said. “It was time consuming but, while those types of injuries are always in the back of your mind, I think he’s back.
“Because of the time off it’s just taken a while to get him fit again. He built up but wasn’t gross.
“It’s not been so much the extra weight, more so getting him race fitness.
“You can’t work the guts out of them quickly, especially being mindful of his previous injury.
“His last run in Brisbane (third up) was really good. We got 30-1 about him. “He was a bit wide and the stewards report noted he got bumped at the start and at the 900 metres.
“He’s trained on good and is pretty close to the mark.”
Esprit Lad led until the shadows of the post at Doomben finishing fourth, beaten under a length to Joint Chiefs over 1020m.
Jackson, 50, licensed for 30 years, is no stranger to having a decent horse. He prepared 10-time winner Doctor Danzig and trained Novak and Miss Munda early in their careers before the pair went to Barry Bennett in Melbourne and won multiple metropolitan races.
The owners of Esprit Lad - Walgett farmers Paul Wickman, Michael and Jim O’Brien and Ray Pike - also enjoyed plenty of success with Bungambra Lad.
Esprit Lad was one of two horses purchased by Jackson at the Adelaide Magic Million sales. Esprit Lad cost $16,000, has already won $43,050, and the other horse Waljai has a win and 13 placing’s from 27 starts.
Jackson rides his small team work on his 10,000 acre, sheep, wheat and cattle property, occasionally venturing to Coonamble for fast work.
“I‘m a farmer, the horses are my outlet that stop me from going crazy,” Jackson joked. “Esprit Lad took a bit of time to mature. He’s a horse with a lot of character and likes to get up to a bit of mischief.
“He’s very relaxed though and switches on on raceday.
“If he goes good Sunday we’ll go back to Brisbane on the 24th (November).”

Rich Esprit 10/10/09

2009-10-10T21:22:00.013+11:00

The Rich get Richer
The day ended at Pakenham with a horse that was backed off the map starting at even money, and won like it.
Rich Esprit won the Class 1 Pakenham Sports Club Hcp over 1300m, was ridden by Matt Pumpa for trainer Peter Moody and the connections who race the horse are L J Fleming, A P Stein, B A Field, M Aurisch, D W Mazlin, C J Grady, A H Thom, J K Murdoch, M J Lilley & D R Grant.
This was her second win and she won by two and a quarter lengths in a time of 1.19.41. She is going to win further races which would enhance her paddock value as she has a nice pedigree.
Rich Esprit (AUS) [2005] Peter G Moody
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Millrich (AUS)Siblings
DECLAREE (AUS) [2001] - FAVORITE TRICK (USA)8w-11p-45s $94,600Race: 900-1414m Won: 1000-1300m Wet: 5w-3p-18sLR 0w-0p-1s
DANERICH (AUS) [2002] - DANEHILL (USA)3w-4p-17s $236,700Race: 900-1400m Won: 1000-1100m Wet: 2w-1p-5sG1 0w-0p-1s, G2 0w-1p-2s, G3 1w-1p-6s, LR 1w-0p-4sBLACKMILL (AUS) [2003] - BLACK HAWK (GB)1w-1p-8s $6,700Race: 900-1414m Won: 1414-1414m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
INQUISITION (AUS) [2004] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)1w-0p-20s $6,300Race: 1000-1800m Won: 1000-1000m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

Cosmic Vision 10/10/09

2009-10-10T20:55:00.008+11:00

Bel Wins on the Sand at The Alice

The second winner of the day was the Cosmic Dust gelding, Cosmic Vision, who had been sold by yours truely and my Son, Peter, last Augustl. He is a full brother to Spirits in the Sky who we sold last May and has won two races for Steve Beattie.

We also sold Spirited Halo who won his last start by nine lengths at Wangaratta. Not much fun for people who love to go to the races and watch their horses run.

Maybe this will be an excuse to have the pleasure of visiting the Red Centre and take in the sights and see Cosmic Dust race.

Cosmic Vision will win many more races so let's today get to know all about the new trainer, Nev Conner.

What dreams are made of
GREGOR MACTAGGART
July 31st, 2009
IT'S 8am on a typically brilliant Darwin dry season morning in July marked by the sun rising regally over Fannie Bay racecourse.
Most of the Top End's population is getting ready for the day ahead, but Nev Connor has already been up for a few hours preparing for the biggest week of his year.
The veteran Alice Springs trainer, who is closing in on 80 years of age, may be short in stature, but he is a giant of Territory horse racing.
Every year for the past three decades, Connor and his wife Bonnie have trekked north to the Top End in search of Darwin Cup Carnival glory.
While he tasted regular success - most notably in the 1995 Darwin Guineas with Jucent - the affable horseman couldn't quite crack it in the Territory's two premier races.
The Darwin Cup (2000m) is known around Australia, while the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) has a time-honoured history as the Territory's richest dash.
But in living proof of the old adage "good things come to those who wait", Connor's time did eventually come, thanks to a mercurial speedster named Jade City.
Bought for a modest four-figure sum from the late Bruce McLachlan in Queensland, Jade City changed Connor's life.
In his first start for Connor, he won a 1300m Class 3 at Fannie Bay by 10 lengths in July 2006, but a tooth problem saw him off the scene just as quickly as he leapt on it.
The subsequent treatment and layoff repaid rich dividends when Connor rolled up to the Top End in 2007 and Jade City came to play, setting new Bay track-records over 1200m and 1300m before tackling that year's Palmerston Sprint.
Jade City hadn't started for a month, but never gave his rivals a look-in with a breathtaking and awe-inspiring display under eminent jockey Paul Shiers which ended Connor's 27-year feature drought.
Showing that performance was no fluke, Jade City, Connor and Shiers reunited to go back-to-back last year in a performance no-one who was at Fannie Bay would forget.
Jade City - who had not raced since the previous Palmerston - looked in trouble at the halfway stage but, lifted by Shiers, gunned down his fellow Centralian Periduki within the shadows of the post.
Sadly, less than four months later, the brilliant galloper - hailed as the "people's champion" - was dead after suffering a blockage of his bowel caused by colic.
While understandably shattered, Connor knew he had to find a new Palmerston contender and hit the mark with a Western Australian sprinter named Far Horizons.
The five-year-old had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Scenic Blast, Danny Beau and Dark Target in Perth, but a bid from Connor was enough to secure the son of Scenic.
"We paid $50,000 for him and thought 'oh yeah he could measure up looking at his form', but he's been better than expectations," Connor said. "When I saw him gallop I thought 'oh geez' and when (jockey) Ben (Cornell) rode him down home he said to me 'this horse can gallop'."
Connor admitted Far Horizons was "about 70 per cent" when he ran sixth behind Lucid Reflection in this year's Pioneer Sprint just weeks after arriving in Alice Springs.
But with time on his side, Connor set about the task of trying to become the first trainer to win three consecutive Palmerston Sprints.
Two trials tuned Far Horizons up for his Top End debut - and what a debut it was - the talented sprinter scored a thumping 3 1/2 length win in the City of Darwin WFA Plate (1200m) on July 18. Such was the ease of Far Horizons' performance that talk quickly shifted after the race to talk about Connor and Shiers making it a Palmerston hat-trick.
"I don't think anybody's ever won three Palmerston Sprints - let alone three in a row," Connor said.
"It's something you dream about.
"To win again with Paul would be something very special because this is the time of year you look forward to."
Asked to compare Far Horizons to Jade City, Connor remarked: "Jade City was a great horse. This horse is a great horse too, but for him it's the beginning.
"If he wins Saturday I'll probably take him down to Adelaide for the Christmas Handicap.
"Jade City was a big lanky, raw-boned type of horse, whereas this bloke is beautifully compact, well put together and long in the barrel.
"If you had to buy a horse off a production line, he's the type you want because his body is correct in every manner."
Just like Jade City in the past couple of years, Far Horizons will start a warm favourite and last night was a $2.70 clear top pick with leading bookmaker Sportingbet.
Connor has studiously observed Far Horizons' work during the Palmerston build-up this week and with one glimpse of his trusty yellow stop-watch on that sunny July morning, he knows his new stable star is ready.
Ready to create history and etch his 79-year-old trainer and eminent jockey in the record books.

Alesprit 10/10/09

2009-10-10T20:51:00.003+11:00

Three Winners in Three States
Bel Esprit achieved another first in his short history as a stallion when Alesprit, Cosmic Vision and Rich Esprit all won on the same day and the races were won in three States, Queensland, Northern Territory and Victoria.
Alesprit started the day when he won the Surfside Buslines QTIS 3-Y-O Handicap over 900m at the Gold Coast in a time of 49.77 which was a class record, just outside the record of 49.66 held by Tornado Alley. The jockey, Garry Baker, took the 3YO to the front after jumping from the stalls and spreadeagled the field to win by five lengths, just a bit shorter than his eleven and a half length win when he had his first start.
Bevan and Richard Laming have taken over the training following his time out with leg surgery and it won’t be long before we see this Bel Esprit racing at City meetings.
Alesprit (AUS) [2006] Bevan & Richard Laming
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Rory's Babe (AUS)
Sold $2000 at Magic Millions 2007 National Select Weanling Sale by Oaklands Stud
Sibling
MIA'S BABE (AUS) [2005] - CATBIRD (AUS)0w-0p-3sRace: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Alesprit 10/10/09

2009-10-10T06:29:00.002+11:00

Rocky's Mundi Gully is ready
9th October 2009
BOOM Rockhampton juvenile Mundi Gully will make an audacious attack on debut in the $110,000 QTIS Added 2YO (1000m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane tomorrow.
Trained by Julie Green, the Ron and Bev White owned Mundi Gully has set the benchmark for Rockhampton's budding young racers for some weeks now and his winning effort in a Yeppoon 2YO Trial (450m) last Tuesday was outstanding.
Mundi Gully (b c Shamardal (USA)-Jackie x Last Tycoon) scored easily from Jim Rundle's Paint The Wind and clocked the sensational time for the fractional distance of 24.24 seconds.
The trial win delighted stable foreman Graeme Green who has made his intentions known for sometime that Mundi Gully was Brisbane material.
In what promises to be an interesting day for Central Queensland race followers, Baralaba owned Bel Esprit filly Alsprit is due to resume racing under the banner of Bevan and Richard Laming in a 900 metres 3YO scamper at the Gold Coast.
After Rocky trainer Tom Bourke produced Alsprit for a record breaking 11.5 lengths Callaghan Park win on March 3, she finished second to Arcup in the $120,000 Capricorn Classic (1200m) on April 4.
Following subsequent leg surgery, Alsprit was transferred to the Lamings at Jacobs Well so as to be made readily available for a Brisbane campaign.

Belle Diva 8/10/09

2009-10-09T08:15:00.004+11:00

Belle Diva Lives Up To Her Trial Form
Belle Diva ran right up to her trial form in winning on debut at Bendigo in the $15,000 Silks Function Centre Super Vobis 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m) earlier this afternoon.
Trial form can be a bit misleading, but not this time as the filly simply blew her opposition away to win by five lengths.
Trained at Kyneton by Neil Dyer, he has never been in a hurry to produce the filly to the races, preferring to wait until the time right once she gained some maturity.
After drawing the fence she was never headed thereafter running out an impressive winner.
As for future plans there are none at present, it's a matter of how well she has pulled up after her win and when suitable race comes along.
Patience has been a virtue in this instance, and Dyer is not likely to be any hurry to rush her to town.
Belle Diva is a filly with a future. She is going to win further races which would enhance her paddock value as she has a nice pedigree.
She is buy Bel Esprit from Manly Belle who is by Star Watch from Helen's Love a half sister to Calera the dam of Imposera, Imprimatue and Calaboose.
Bargain Belle Romps Home
Breednet - Media Release - Thursday, 8 October 2009
The reputation of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for producing quality gallopers at bargain prices was boosted today with a barnstorming debut win at Bendigo by a filly bought for just $15,000.
Bel Esprit filly Belle Diva romped to a four and a half length victory in the Silks Function Centre 3YO Plate (1000m) at her first run.
A member of the Kyneton stables of Neil Dyer, Belle Diva was sent out one of the popular elects after a brilliant trial win leading into today's event.
Dyer went into the race with a good deal of confidence, but even he was impressed with the ease of the on speed performance.
"It surprise me a bit," Dyer said. "You can do that in trials when the pressure isn't right on, but when it comes to the real thing it is usually a different story."
"I thought she was well above average and thank god it's proved to be right," he added.
"She's run good time and there was a bit of a head wind in the straight as well. It was very pleasing."
Dyer said hadn't looked ahead of today's debut run with Belle Diva and he said he would be in no rush to work out when she would step out next.
"We'll just get her home and check her over and then make our plans from there."
Michelle Payne, who rode Belle Diva to victory, was suitably impressed with the performance and suggested there was still good improvement to come.
"She gave me a really good feel," Payne commented. "She jumped well and floated along nicely in front."
"She went at a strong enough tempo, but she was comfortable doing it so I just left her alone and help her balanced."
"When I asked her to quicken, I gave her a couple of little cracks she really did let down nicely."
"She's still a big wayward, so she will improve on that again."
"She did everything right and won well, so it's great," Payne summed up.
Belle Diva is another smart winner sired by leading Victorian sire Bel Esprit (pictured). His stakes winners include Gold Coast sold Group One winner Bel Mer, boom filly Black Caviar and Magic Millions graduates Mooring and Gabbidon.
Bred by Flower Hill Stud and sold by Ducatoon Park at the famous Morphettville auction, Belle Diva is the fourth winner from Many Belle.
A Sydney winning two-year-old by Star Watch, Manly Belle has already thrown the four time Adelaide winner Madam Lush (Danehill Dancer).
Manly Belle, a winner of four races in all, is a half sister to Rory's Helen, the two-year-old winning dam of crack New Zealand galloper Wahid and his stakes winning half sister All the Chat (now the dam of a Japanese Group winner).
Wahid, a son of Almutawakel, won over NZ$ million including the New Zealand Derby and Levin Classic and four other black type events. He was also placed in two other group one events.
The 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale will be held at the Morphettville sales complex from March 9 to 12.
The sale is best known in past seasons for Group One winning graduates including Mummify, Undoubtedly, Devil Moon, Young Centaur, Spin Around, Divine Madonna and Casino Prince.
Belle Diva (AUS) [2006] Neil Dyer
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Manly Belle (AUS)
Sold $15000 at Magic Millions 2008 Adelaide Yearling Sale & Races Sessions 1 & 2 by Ducatoon Park, Kadina SA
Siblings
MATINSK (AUS) [1996] - SEMIPALATINSK (USA)2w-3p-29s $6,800Race: 900-1700m Won: 1210-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
POMONA BELLE (AUS) [1997] - DISTINCTLY NORTH (USA)0w-0p-1sRace: 800-800m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
MANLERA (AUS) [2001] - UMATILLA (NZ)0w-2p-11s $2,600Race: 1000-2200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-1p-3s
MADAM LUSH (AUS) [2002] - DANEHILL DANCER (IRE)4w-11p-21s $60,200Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1050-1200m Wet: 1w-1p-4sLR 0w-0p-1s
CHILLI PADI (AUS) [2004] - BELLOTTO (USA)1w-1p-7s $21,100Race: 1000-1400m Won: 1400-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Liffeybel 4/10/09

2009-10-05T12:46:00.003+11:00

Liffeybel Scores
The winner of the Drink Drive Bloody Idiot Mdn on Benalla Cup day was Liffeybel, a filly who had four starts before yesterday for two thirds.
Michelle Payne jumped her to the front in the 1406m race of twelve runners and held off the hotpot, Roman Eye, to win by a head and took her winnings to $12,000.
Bred by Mr J Cameron-Smith of South Australia, she was sold at the 2008 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling for $75,000 to Mr A J Shaw & Mrs J A Shaw and is trained by Jim Mason
Liffeybell
10. Liffeybel (AUS) [2006] Jim Mason
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Rhythmic Halo (AUS)
Siblings
RHYTHMO (AUS) [1999] - SAITHOR (USA)1w-3p-32s $7,700Race: 1100-3200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-1sLR 0w-0p-1s
BILLY BAROO (AUS) [2000] - SAITHOR (USA)3w-8p-46s $35,700Race: 1000-1555m Won: 1000-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-3s
HAARENA (AUS) [2001] - ARENA (AUS)3w-4p-15s $23,000Race: 1200-2250m Won: 1200-1950m Wet: 1w-0p-1s
RUNAWAY GHOST (AUS) [2002] - NOTHIN' LEICA DANE (AUS)0w-0p-3sRace: 1200-2036m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
NIMBI (AUS) [2005] - ALANNAN (USA)0w-0p-5sRace: 1050-1600m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Black Caviar, Gabbidon 2/10/09

2009-10-02T07:55:00.005+10:00

Caviar Convalesces
Peter Moody reported in this week’s Winning Post
“Unbeaten filly Black Caviar will enjoy a nice spring spell in peace and quiet at my farm in Victoria before being set for an autumn campaign.
She tore a chest muscle on her way to winning her most recent start. While not a major injury, it was quite devastating because I felt she could have won three Group 1s this spring – the Manikato, the Thousand Guineas and the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Looking at things positively, there is nothing wrong with her structurally and springtime is the best for horses to relax and develop.
She’ll continue to receive ultrasound and muscle treatment but life will be very pleasant for her in the coming weeks”

The story brings back memories of another Bel Esprit filly, Gabbidon who was favourite for the Thousand Guineas two years ago after winning the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude.
"Gabbidon, the impressive winner of last Saturday’s Group III Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), is out of further spring racing after sustaining an injury.
The Bel Esprit filly, trained by Gary Kennewell at Morphetville, has suffered a hairline fracture in her wither in a stable mishap ruling her out of the progressing to the Group I Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17th.
Gabbidon won the Thousand Guineas Prelude by 1 3/4L taking her to the head of Thousand Guineas markets".

September stats. 1/10/09

2009-10-01T06:37:00.004+10:00

September Stats.
Bel Esprit had sixteen wins for the month of September, the same as last month
Season..2009-2010..(Aust.NZ & Asia)
.Crop.......sts..win. Pl..%win..%place
1st crop...47...6.....11...12.77...36.17
2nd crop..87..20....21...22.99...47.13
3rd crop..40...6.....11...15.00...42.50
Total.......174..32....43..18.39...43.10
All 1st crop winners were male
He had nine winners for the month taking the total of winners for the season to twenty three
He is well on the way towards one hundred winners for the year as are the other two main fourth year sires, Hussonet and Choisir.
(Aust & NZ only)
Bel Esprit 72/21 Strike rate 29% $619,353
Hussonet 84/21 Strike rate 25% $743,248
Choisir......69/17 Strike rate 24% $710,177
The winners were
2/09/2009..IBSEN....SCANDINAVIA (AUS) (SNIPPETS (AUS))
BLMT R1 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TAB HANDICAP-64 3U RST64 1000m
2/09/2009...STRIDING SUCCESS..LA BELLA ZOCCOLA (AUS) (SNIPPETS (AUS))
BKVA R2 ATLAS PARTY HIRE MDN PLATE 3 MDN 1050m
2/09/2009..THE PACKAGE...SORELLA (AUS) (EUCLASE (AUS))
BLMT R7 SEAFOOD IN THE TERRACE 12/9-68 3UCG RST68 1400m
3/09/2009..STRUDEL...ZAPPLE (AUS) (ZEDITAVE (AUS))
SEYM R3 RAILWAY CLUB HOTEL MDN 4U MDN 1009m
5/09/2009..BLACK CAVIAR...HELSINGE (AUS) (DESERT SUN (GB))
FLEM R6 DANEHILL STAKES 3 OPEN 1200m
6/09/2009..ROYAL SAINT...PONIARD (AUS) (LAKE CONISTON (IRE))
MREE R8 BLUESKY THOROUGHBREDS HANDICAP (C2) CL2 1200m
7/09/2009..SIZZLING SPRING...TRUE SPIRIT (AUS) (MUSTIN LAKE (USA))
WAGG R3 RIVERINA CRANE SERVICES MDN CG MDN 1200m
11/09/2009..REBEL TRUCE...LARGO (AUS) (ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS))
GEEL R4 SCHWEPPES 3YO MDN PLATE 3 MDN 1340m
13/09/2009..UNDERCURRENT...RIVERS SECRET (AUS) (FLYING SPUR (AUS))
BDGO R2 BENDIGO FASHION WEEK MDN 3 MDN 1000m
15/09/2009..WALTZES...DANCE THE MUSIC (AUS) (PICNICKER (AUS))
WNBL R8 C J ANDREW PLUMBING HANDICAP (62) RST62 1100m
16/09/2009..STRIDING SUCCESS...LA BELLA ZOCCOLA (AUS) (SNIPPETS (AUS))
MPK R4 SPORTINGBET HANDICAP (C1) 3 CL1 1000m
19/09/2009..BEAU ESPRIT...CENTENNIAL (NZ) (CENTAINE (AUS))
ECHA R5 CLASSIC ROCK HANDICAP OPEN 1012m
20/09/2009..SIZZLING SPRING...TRUE SPIRIT (AUS) (MUSTIN LAKE (USA))
DUBB R5 THE ADVISORY GROUP HANDICAP (C1) CG CL1 1300m
21/09/2009.. SPIRITOFTHERIVER...RIVERSIDE LASS (AUS) (NOALCOHOLIC (FR))
WKBL R3 WIMMERA RACING CLUB MDN PLATE 4U MDN 1200m
26/09/2009..SPIRITED HALO...BLAZING AURA (AUS) (BLAZING SWORD (AUS))
WANG R4 GORDON GIBSON NOMINEES HANDICAP-78 RST78 1400m
27/09/2009..WALTZES...DANCE THE MUSIC (AUS) (PICNICKER (AUS))
SW H R5 COMMERCIAL HOTEL SWAN HILL-72 RST72 0975m

Spirited Halo 29/9/09

2009-09-29T06:03:00.002+10:00

Spirited Halo leaves the field far behind
MATT CRAM
28/09/2009 12:00:00 AM
TALENTED sprinter Spirited Halo acquired a new string to his bow in a devastating victory in Saturday’s $12,000 Rating 78 Hcp (1400m) at Wangaratta.
Jockey Matt Pumpa barely had to move a muscle on the Bel Esprit gelding as the $3.30 favourite streaked clear of his rivals for a massive nine-length win on the heavy (10) track.
Liz Aalbers’ battler Firetime ($11) was second ahead of Johadina ($3.40).
It was Spirited Halo’s first victory for Mornington trainer John White since leaving Matthew Ellerton’s Melbourne stables in March.
“Would you believe it, I bought him in March and tipped him out for the winter because his form showed he wasn’t a wet-tracker,” White told.
“But he ran a pretty good race on a heavy eight two starts back (at Bendigo) and then obviously relished the conditions yesterday.”
Ellerton had a high opinion of the now five-year-old, racing him mostly in Melbourne including in the listed McKenzie Stakes where he finished seven lengths behind boom three-year-old Light Fantastic last year.
White said he saw a frustrated horse when he inspected Spirited Halo at an Ellerton sale.
“He looked really angry and cranky and like he wasn’t appreciating being trained in the city,’ White said.
“So I took him out to Mornington and give him plenty of time out in the paddock and I think it’s made a difference.”
White avoided racing Spirited Halo at his home track on Saturday in favour of giving the horse some winning confidence.
“There wasn’t a race for him in Mornington and I wanted to get a win in him,” White said.
“We want to get the money back for the owners first and then take it from there.
“It wasn’t a strong field he beat but if he can improve, who knows.”

Breeze Up Sales 29/9/09

2009-09-29T05:56:00.002+10:00

Sizzling Times As Sequalo Filly Runs Quickest At Gold Coast
Lightning times were the order of the day at the Gold Coast Turf Club today when the first of two breeze up sessions in the lead up to the 2009 Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale was held.
Some 34 horses broke the magical 11 seconds barrier - headlined by the 10.35 seconds carved out by a filly by Sequalo from Baramul Stud.
Catalogued as lot number 138, the Sequalo filly is the first foal of a Danehill three quarter sister to Verstak and half sister to Show of Force.
Two colts - by Danzero and Happy Giggle - ran the second quickest time of the day - 10.4 seconds.
Another pair of two-year-olds ran under 10.5 - colts by Danehill stallions Untouchable and Fastnet Rock.
First season sires to impress with sub 11 runners included the likes of Stratum, Hidden Dragon, Keep the Faith, Snitzel, Jet Spur, Greenwood Lake and Snippetson.
Others to run under 11 seconds today included progeny of proven sires including Flying Spur, Bel Esprit, Sequalo, Al Maher, Testa Rossa, Hussonet, More Than Ready, Bletchley Park, Fastnet Rock, Savabeel and Tale of the Cat.
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said the session was extremely successful with a number of stand out performances.
"We've never had so many horses run under 11 seconds here at the Gold Coast track before," Chester said.
"And this just the first session of breeze ups - there will be plenty more to be put through their paces next month."
Chester said the horses were exceptionally presented by their vendors and he was confident they would be well received by prospective buyers in the lead up the popular auction.
"The vendors keep getting more professional each year," Chester pointed out. "They should be congratulated for how the day went."
"There are plenty of good looking horses and most importantly they all look exciting racetrack prospects."
Video clips from the breeze ups will be available from Thursday on the Magic Millions website.
And entries remain open for the new racehorse sale to be held on the day following the second session of the Horses in Training Sale next month.
"Entries are just $150 plus GST - this is the best spot to offer your tried galloper to a worldwide buying bench."
Anyone requiring information on any of the sale days should contact the Bloodstock Department of Magic Millions.
TOP TEN BREEZE-UP TIMES
10.35 secs - Sequalo-Double Strength filly (Baramul Stud)
10.40 secs - Danzero-Bluevien colt (Heran Racing Pty Ltd)
10.40 secs - Happy Giggle-Freaky Fran colt (Kingsportz Pty Ltd)
10.43 secs - Untouchable-Pickabox colt (Attunga Stud)
10.53 secs - Hidden Dragon-Miss Bletchingly colt (Washpool Lodge)
10.54 secs - Fusaichi Pegasus-Little 'n' Cute colt (BC3 Thoroughbreds)
10.60 secs - Untouchable-Upper Notch colt (Nolen Racing)
10.61 secs - Fusaichi Pegasus-Pamplona colt (Racetree)
10.64 secs - Stratum-Whirligig colt (BC3 Thoroughbreds)
10.65 secs - Bel Esprit-Bellain colt (Washpool Lodge)

Waltzes 27/9/09

2009-09-27T16:49:00.003+10:00

The Triple Waltzes

The horse with the Bel Esprit action won his third consecutive race at Swan Hill over 975m today and the way he won he might win five on end as did his Dad.
Waltzes, with Brady Cross on board as he has in his other two wins, jumped to the front again only today he was taken on by the well backed second favourite Happy Honey who he fought off in the straight to record a convincing five length win.
This four year old is out of a Picnicker mare Dance the Music and grand dam sire to no other than Snippets who is most successful with Bel Esprit.
This has taken Rob Slade’s wife Corinna to equal leader on the owners premiership with ten wins and the horses that sent her up there are Belcentra3, Tassolegy1, Seasonality2, Mooring1, Waltzes3.

Waltzes (AUS) [2005] Jarrod Mclean

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Dance The Music (AUS)

Sold $80000, Slade Bloodstock, VIC at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Premier Yearling by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic

Sibling
STORMY HUNTER (AUS) [2003] - GENUINE (JPN)3w-4p-22s $20,800Race: 1009-2100m Won: 1516-1980m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

Spirited Halo 26/9/09

2009-09-27T05:40:00.002+10:00

Spirited Halo Then Daylight
The Bel Esprits have won one hundred and thirty five races and none have won as easily at Spirited Halo did at Wangaratta today.
With Matt Pumpa on board this five year old spreadeagled the field to win by nine lengths on a track that was downgraded to heavy 10 just before the race started. On the Peninsula Bloodstock web page I found the story on the trainer who has won two races with his last three starters.
John White (pictured right), at the age of 32, is a young man with experience that is paramount to any young trainers career. A self starter John's lifelong passion and love of horses from an early age meant that a career in racehorse training was the only option.

He has seen himself grow from a stable hand in NSW for trainers such as Max Lees and Paul Perry to Head Foreman for Australia's Leading Trainer Lee Freedman.John has gained extensive and practical knowledge over the past 6 years, and is very realistic about the necessity to run a successful and profitable business as being paramount to any young trainer's career.

John is an excellent horseman, his greatest assets being his complete understanding of the racehorse, hands on care, sharp eye and attention to detail.John has been very fortunate to have had the experience to work with Hall Of Fame and best trainer and best race horses such as Alinghi, Special Harmony, Mummify and of course the ultimate in Makybe Diva. John knows what it takes for a racehorse to compete at the highest level and has the work ethic to compliment this.

After a three and a half year stint Freedman, John decided that it was time to put all the knowledge and experience into practice and devise his own training regimes and bring them to fruition.John gained his trainers license in Feb 2007, 'took a punt' and branched out on his own.

He has enjoyed considerable success through training multiple provincial and metropolitan winners. The passion, desire and the drive to succeed will see John live his life long dream of becoming a successful racehorse trainer and achieve results on the racetrack

Bel Esprit 24/9/09

2009-09-24T11:35:00.002+10:00

Stallion Bel Esprit’s a Legend with the Fillies
Macedon Ranges Leader
16 Sep 09 @ 08:00am by Barry Kennedy

Lay one on me baby! Champion stud Bel Esprit shows his best features at Eliza Park stud in Kerrie near Romsey. Picture: DENNIS MANKTELOW

IF Errol Flynn had been reincarnated as a horse, he might have been Bel Esprit.
Like the Hollywood showman, Bel Esprit, a resident stallion at Eliza Park in Kerrie near Romsey, is legendary with the ladies.
A former front runner on the track, well-connected but from humble beginnings and a strongman with impressive stamina, the 10-year-old horse is in his prime in spring.
In 2007 as the thoroughbred industry was in lockdown with equine influenza, Bel Esprit was busy servicing 266 mares - an Australian record and possible world record for a season’s work in the stud, which has 10 prized stallions.
This year with several of his offspring such as Black Caviar making names for themselves on the track, Bel Esprit is again in demand.
Reigning Victorian sire champion, Bel Esprit is ranked eighth in the country.
Offspring of the champion have won close to $500,000, with 21 wins this season to September 9.
Eliza Park marketing manager Greg Tobin said the regular wins by sires of Bel Esprit were keeping the mares coming through the stable door, paying $15,500 for the privilege.
Fortunately the stallion rises to the challenge.
“Some would say it’s too punishing, but he is like an 18-year-old in a nightclub,” Mr Tobin said.
“Every horse has its idiosyncrasies - Esprit has an unrivalled libido.”
Meticulous preparations are made with every mare, while Bel Esprit’s condition is monitored throughout the spring.
Joint owner and former Essendon footballer Brian Donahoe said watching big wins by Bel Esprit alongside fellow owner Kevin Sheedy was one of his life highlights.
Bel Esprit was bought for $9000 at the 2001 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.

5 year olds 24/9/09

2009-09-24T05:04:00.003+10:00

B E Mares
It is time of the year when the youngsters are about to hit the tracks, Bel Esprit has only won two races for two year olds, raced before the new year.
Remember when they first ran and the knockers were around saying that the fillies were OK but where are the colts?
The shoe is on the other hoof now because two months into the five year old season and the fillies haven't won a race from twenty two starts while the five year old boys have won five races from eighteen starts, a strike rate of 28%.
It makes one think of the story last Monday about Bel Esprit's dad, Royal Academy breeding the two group winners last saturdayand who has come from 90 to 29 to 13 and now 8 on the list of Broodmare sires.
hopefully Bel Esprit mares will do the same thing.

Sizzling Spring 24/9/09

2009-09-24T04:55:00.002+10:00

Sizzling run for two in a row
Cowra Guardian
23/09/2009 9:11:00 AM
Ken Parsons has rejuvenated the career of another stalled metropolitan galloper after enjoying a second win in as many starts with Sizzling Spring.
The five-year-old gelding cruised to a comfortable win in the The Advisory Group Class 1 Handicap (1300m) at Dubbo in class record time on Sunday.
It backed up a similar sterling effort at Wagga as the son of Bel Esprit looks to climb through the classes.
An inexpensive pick-up from Hawkesbury trainer Brian Firth, the Cowra horseman, known for his uncanny ability of resurrecting many careers in the country, is already reaping the rewards from his shrewd investment.
“I’ve only had him for the two starts and he’s won both,” Parsons (pictured) said.
“I watched him a couple of times at Bathurst when Brian had brought him up and liked him.
“One of the days he rang me up and said he wanted to sell him and I asked how much and he said he would take what he could get for him.
“I put him in the paddock for 12 months and he’s won both, that’s sort of how I came to get him.”
The $6 chance, ridden by in-form hoop Michael Travers, settled near the rear of the field before sprinting away for a two-length win from the Collen Thurston-trained Mullitover ($12).
The Grant Buckley-ridden Exorcize, a $4.60 equal favourite, was a long neck further away in third.
Parsons said he was pleased with Sizzling Spring’s second-up effort considering the difficulties usually associated with handling the step up in class.
“I was very happy. When they’re in Class 1, it’s very hard to win straight after their maiden, but he did.
“I asked Michael (Travers) to ride him similar to Wagga. He comes better from behind, he is a very relaxed horse.”

Tollesprit 21/9/09

2009-09-21T20:05:00.001+10:00

Tollesprit to have scans on injured legs
Monday, 21 September 2009:
Trainer Shane Fliedner fears Tollesprit's Caulfield Guineas campaign may be over.Fliedner said he would not know until the three-year-old's legs are scanned whether he will be able to train on to the Guineas on October 10.
Tollesprit was injured in Saturday's Guineas Prelude (1400m) and pulled up lame in the off fore leg and with lacerations to both hind legs."He was in the wars and he's not out of them yet," Fliedner said."He is getting some x-rays done tomorrow (Tuesday) to decide whether we go on with him or not."He has been sore but is not as sore at the moment although that doesn't mean there is nothing amiss.
"Tollesprit was one of the leading chances for the Guineas but has drifted dramatically from $13 to $31 with TAB Sportsbet.Fliedner was planning to run Tollesprit in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 3 and then back him up in the Guineas.Only last week he declared Tollesprit was the horse to beat in the Group One feature.

Spiritsoftheriver 21/9/09

2009-09-21T18:50:00.003+10:00

A Bolting Spirit

Bel Esprit has one hundred and nineteen winners, one third have the name esprit or spirit within the name and none could have been more impressive than Spiritoftheriver who won her first start in the Wimmera Racing Club Maiden Plate over 1200m at Warracknabeal today.
Opening up a short priced favourite, the combination of the Vellas, Kylie the trainer, Steven the jockey and let’s not forgwt, there is a Vella among the owners, A M Arrowsmith, P G Arrowsmith, Dorian 1 Racing Syndicate, L Dorian & Mrs K Vella, made it all happen. Jumping from the wide barrier nine, she raced forward, hitting the front in the straight and tore away to win by four lengths untouched.
We are happy as Mark Arrowsmith bought one of our nominations in 2004for his mare Riverside Lass and with this success, he might buy another nomination and send his mare back in 2010. Riverside Lass is a mare out of Noalcholic and Beltrois (Vaingt Trois) and Esprit of Eve (Apalachicola) are the other winners out of mares by Noalcholic
Spiritoftheriver (AUS) [2005] Kylie Vella

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Riverside Lass (AUS)
MAGICAL RIVER (AUS) [2002] - LACRYMA CRISTI (IRE)0w-3p-13s $4,300Race: 1000-2200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-1p-4s

PORTRAIT LASS (AUS) [2003] - PERUGINO (USA)5w-8p-30s $52,400Race: 1000-1612m Won: 1100-1400m Wet: 2w-1p-4s

Bel Esprit's Dad 20/9/09

2009-09-21T07:47:00.001+10:00

Siblings Provide Big Double For Royal Academy Mare
Story By Nathan Exelby
Saturday, 19 September 2009: It's not often full-brothers salute on the same day, but that was the case at Caulfield today, with Rightfully Yours followed by Group 1 winner Heart Of Dreams in a notable black type double.
The Show A Heart brothers are from the Royal Academy mare Academy Of Dreams.Owner/breeder Larry Bartle is clearly of the opinion that Show A Heart is the perfect partner for the mare – and why not!Academy Of Dreams has been to Show A Heart in each of the past six seasons, with Rightfully Yours being the oldest of those.The now five-year-old was denied a stakes success when losing the Listed Prime Minister's Cup on protest through the winter, but made amends with his first up win today. He is now the winner of eight races and more than $300,000 in prizemoney.However, he has to play second fiddle to his younger brother Heart Of Dreams in the family pecking order. The now four-year-old gelding landed his second Group 1 victory when taking today's G1 Underwood Stakes. It followed his success in the G1 Australian Guineas earlier in the year. Heart Of Dreams' record now stands at five wins for earnings of more than $900,000, with the promise of more to come after defeating a stellar field today.

Sizzling Spring 20/9/09

2009-09-20T17:33:00.006+10:00

Another Sizzling Success

IT is well documented that Black Caviar has won her last two starts and there are others to register the same result this season.
The Package, Champagne Flute, Waltzes, Striding Success and today, Sizzling Spring joined the list of consecutive winners. Starting from barrier seven Michael Travers drove Striding Spring to the front and although other runners loomed up in the straight, he went away again to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Ken Parsons, who took over the training this time in has done a great job and he is a horse that is destined to run through his classes. Today’s race, the Advisory Group Class 1 Handicap at Wagga, was over 1300m, up 100m from last start and he raced over 1800m when last in training for Brian Firth.
Sizzling Spring (AUS) [2004]

Bel Esprit (AUS) - True Spirit (AUS)

Psd $45,000 Res $50,000, at Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale 2006 by Ducatoon Park, Kadina SA

Sold $35000, J Gask, SA at Magic Millions National Yearling Sale 2006 by Widden Stud, Widden Valley NSW

Siblings
EILATAN (AUS) [1995] - BLUEBIRD (USA)9w-13p-60s $165,500Race: 1000-3300m Won: 1000-2900m Wet: 6w-4p-17sG2 0w-0p-1s, LR 0w-0p-1s

PRECISIONIST (AUS) [2001] - BLEVIC (AUS)1w-5p-26s $8,600Race: 1200-2200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-1p-2s

Beau Esprit 19/9/09

2009-09-19T17:32:00.009+10:00

A Quinella at Echuca

After being scratched from first up starts at Swan Hill and Sandown because of slow tracks, Beau Esprit went to the barrier at Echuca on a dead track over 1012m in the Classic Rock Handicap.

Ridden by Nick Souquet, this Peter Maher trained gelding raced forward three wide all the way and showed great fighting spirit to overtake the favourite La Bella Roo, who headed him in the straight, on the line and win by a head giving Bel Esprit the quinella.

This is Beau Esprit's sixth win ($103,814) equalling Snip Esprit for the most wins by the progeny, five of these wins for trainer Peter Maher. Congratulations to the owners M J Duffy, M P O'Brien, E O'Brien, D C Cox, K E Farrell, J A Henderson, E L Cooney, D Karpin, P B Comley & Wren Hotels Pty Ltd Synd (Mgnr: J Shelton) who expect the horse to win by up to a "mile" this time in.

Michael Duffy's wife, Carol bred Perfect Sky won has won five races (S$229,117) and tonight has the chance to join Beau Esprit on six when he runs at Kranji in Singapore.
Beau Esprit (AUS) [2004]

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Centennial (NZ)

Sold $80000, Magic Millions, NSW at Magic Millions National Weanling Sale 2005 by Cressfield Stud, Scone NSW

Sold $120000, Adrian Nicoll - Bba Ireland, IRELAND at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale 2006 by Newhaven Park Stud, Boorowa NSW

Siblings
KINKA RHODE (AUS) [2003] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)4w-7p-35s $95,400Race: 1000-2400m Won: 1220-2400m Wet: 0w-2p-5sLR 0w-0p-2s

PINK CHAMPAGNE (AUS) [2005] - CARNEGIE (IRE)0w-0p-1sRace: 1100-1100m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Tollesprit 19/9/09

2009-09-19T06:37:00.002+10:00

Mark Pegus bounces back from horror fall to ride in carnival
ADRIAN DUNN, MELBOURNE
September 17, 2009 11:30pm
JUST as well Mark Pegus can't remember the afternoon of Saturday, July 18. Or more particularly, about 4pm.
Pegus was involved in one of the more frightening falls. It was like watching a car crash with Pegus in the driver's seat, blind sided by the locomotive that was about to clean him up.
King Of Ashford, the horse he was partnering, suffered a fatal heart attack 400m into the race. In the sad, closing seconds of its life, the horse veered sideways before Pegus was hurtled head first into the turf.
Although he suffered a cracked right shoulder and a broken left wrist, Pegus considers himself lucky. So, too, stewards who recoiled in horror when replays of the fall were replayed in the steward's room on Wednesday.
"He was lucky he didn't break every bone in his body," cringed steward Sally Miller.
Fortunately, King Of Ashford was at the rear of the field and just as fortunately he careered on an outward line rather than towards the running rail.
It was a dreadful end to what was a spectacular season.
Pegus rode 91 winners, good enough for a top-10 finish in the state.
Pegus, who returns tomorrow to Caulfield for the first time, has no recall of the fall.
"I was conscious, but I can't remember anything until 7pm that night," Pegus said.
"I looked down and I had plaster on my wrist. I had no idea what was going on."
He's hoping that when he leaves that track it's under his own volition and his memories are more vivid and spectacular for far different reasons.
With a sliver of luck the 31-year-old could register one of his finest days. He rides Gold Salute in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and rides the Shane Fliendner-trained Tollesprit in the colts and gelding Guineas Prelude.
"Both are genuine chances," enthused Pegus.
"Gold Salute has drawn a perfect gate, should sit right behind the speed and he should improve on his first-up run, which was terrific."I just think people don't realise just how good this horse is. Look at his win in the Winter Championship. He came from near last, was trapped deep and sustained a 400m sprint to win."
While Gold Salute appears well placed, Pegus is very bullyish about Tollesprit despite bumping into glamour Sydney youngsters Manhattan Rain and Trusting.
Tollesprit comes off a luckless sixth in the Danehill Stakes. Pegus is adamant that if this son of Bel Esprit had clear running he would have tested Black Caviar.
Fliendner has applied blinkers for the first time, an addition that Pegus believes will definitely assist.
"He galloped in blinkers the other morning and it improved him a fair bit," Pegus said.
"He's as good a horse as I've ridden, I wouldn't be surprised if he made a Cox Plate horse next year."
Now, that's something that will invoke pleasant memories.

Bel Esprit x Mrs Bradbury 17/9/09

2009-09-17T16:58:00.006+10:00

Filly (click photo to enlarge)

Born 17/08/2009

Bay Filly

Bel Esprit x Mrs Bradbury

Owner

Tucketts Road Holdings - Kurt Stern

born at Eliza Park

Statistics 17/9/09

2009-09-17T06:51:00.004+10:00

They Just Keep Winning
Season
2009-2010
-----------sts--Win-Pl-------% win
1st crop---33---3---8---11---9.09
2nd crop--71---18--16--34---25.35
3rd crop---31---6---8---14---19.35
Total-----135---27--32--59---20.00
I know it is only early in the season, but Bel Esprit is off to an amazing start, the second crop who are now four year olds are bolting
Overall the stats are
Total--1443--231--335------16.01
There's no stallion in Australia that can beat those % stats.

Striding Success 16/9/09

2009-09-16T18:13:00.004+10:00

Striding to Another Success
Striding Success followed up his last start win over 1050m at Balaclava with another win, this time at Morphettville Parks over 1000m with Wayne Kerford aboard again
Starting second favourite at $4.20, this Bel Esprit carrying 58 kilos went to the front from barrier thirteen and like Waltzes yesterday, put pressure on the following horses on the turn and raced away for a good win
Congratulations to the trainer Trevor Dansie who owns the horse with R N Liddy, B F Morris, Mrs K G Morris, N A Storr , more good times are in store.
Striding Success is out of a Snippets mare La Bella Zoccola, the fifteenth race won by four mares out of Snippets: Bit of Bliss (3 Vivacious Spirit), French Snip (7 Snip Esprit & Babieca Noire), Scandinavia (3 Ibsen) and a Bella Zoccola (2 Striding Success)
Striding Success (AUS) [2006] Trevor Dansie
Bel Esprit (AUS) - La Bella Zoccola (AUS)
Last Run: BKVA 2/09/2009 Atlas Party Hire Mdn Plate
Sold $27000 at Magic Millions 2008 Adelaide Yearling Sale & Races Sessions 1 & 2 by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
Siblings not found

Bel Esprit 16/9/09

2009-09-16T07:48:00.003+10:00

Bel Esprit Timeform Ratings
Australian Timeform Ratings 2001-2002 Racing Season
Two-Year-Old Timeform Handicaps
1 Bel Esprit 121
2 Choisir 120
3 Planchet 120
4 Victory Vein 120
5 Snowland 119
6 Half Hennessy 117
7 Calaway Gal 117
8 Pillaging 117
9 Innovation Girl 116
10 Lovely Jubly 116
Yell 116
Australian Timeform Ratings 2002-2003 Racing Season
Three-Year-Old Timeform Handicaps
1 Choisir 126
2 Bel Esprit 125
3 Yell 124
4 Helenus 123
5 Innovation Girl 122
6 Force Apollo 121
7 Private Steer 121
8 Snowland 121
9 Thorn Park 121
10 Clangalang 120

Black Caviar 16/9/09

2009-09-16T07:26:00.003+10:00

Black Caviar Timeform Ratings
Two-Year-Old Timeform Handicaps
1 Phelan Ready 2c More Than Ready (USA)-Nancy Eleanor (AUS)(Blevic (AUS)) BRUCE & JASON MCLACHLAN $3,223,500 123
2 Real Saga 2C Tale Of The Cat (USA)-Windy Kate (AUS)(Air Express (IRE)) MICHAEL & WAYNE & JOHN HAWKES $742,000 123
3 Manhattan Rain 2C Encosta De Lago (AUS)-Shantha's Choice (AUS)(Canny Lad (AUS)) MS G WATERHOUSE $755,300 122
4 More Joyous 2F More Than Ready (USA)-Sunday Joy (AUS)(Sunday Silence (USA)) MS G WATERHOUSE $237,000 122
5 Onemorenomore 2C Red Ransom (USA)-Palia (AUS)(Last Tycoon (IRE)) JASON COYLE
$358,100 122
6 Reward For Effort 2C Exceed And Excel (AUS)-Miss Prospect (AUS)(Rory's Jester (AUS)) PETER MOODY $732,500 121
7 Black Caviar 2F Bel Esprit (AUS)-Helsinge (AUS)(Desert Sun (GB)) PETER MOODY $105,700 120+
8 Rostova 2F Testa Rossa (AUS)-Space Talk (AUS)(Anabaa (USA)) STEVE RICHARDS $447,500 120
Timeform Ratings - 3yo
1 Denman 3C Lonhro (AUS)-Peach (AUS)(Vain (AUS)) PETER SNOWDEN $731,200 122
2 Onemorenomore 3C Red Ransom (USA)-Palia (AUS)(Last Tycoon (IRE)) JASON COYLE $10,100 117
3 Phelan Ready 3g More Than Ready (USA)-Nancy Eleanor (AUS)(Blevic (AUS)) JASON MCLACHLAN $13,500 117
4 Delago Bolt 3C Delago Brom (AUS)-Bardego (AUS)(Barathea (IRE)) GARY PORTELLI $13,100 116
5 Trusting 3C Tale Of The Cat (USA)-Legible (NZ)(Zabeel (NZ)) JASON COYLE $290,000 116
6 Black Caviar 3F Bel Esprit (AUS)-Helsinge (AUS)(Desert Sun (GB)) PETER MOODY $210,000 115

Waltzes 15/9/09

2009-09-15T21:13:00.005+10:00

A Bel Waltzes at the 'Bool
Waltzes put a great effort to win the C J Andrew Plumbing Handicap (62) over 1100m at Warrnambool by three quarters of a length in a time of 1:07:39 carrying 59 kilo with Brady Cross aboard.
From barrier ten and after an very ordinary jump out, this Jarrod Mc Lean trained horse did a bit of work to get to the lead putting the other horses off the bit on the turn where he went to a two length lead and was good enough to hang on despite the weight. The only Bel Esprit to carry more weight was Royal Esprit when he won a Class 3 at Kembla Grange in May 2008 with 59.5 kilos.
This was the third start for the four year old gelding, having a second place first up, followed by a win at Donald last start. He has Snippets as a grand dam sire and Snippets mares have won fourteen races for the progeny. Another Slade Bloodstock purchase who owns him along L J Ross, D L Barker, L D Kennedy, C Lumely, S J Dawson & S V I Traplin
click line below to watch race
http://horseracing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR383908853858181185

Waltzes (AUS) [2005] Jarrod Mclean
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Dance The Music (AUS)
Sold $80000, Slade Bloodstock, VIC at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Premier Yearling by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
Sibling
STORMY HUNTER (AUS) [2003] - GENUINE (JPN)3w-4p-22s $20,800Race: 1009-2100m Won: 1516-1980m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

Black Caviar 15/9/09

2009-09-15T07:22:00.002+10:00

Moody loses Guineas battle with Black Caviar

Brad Waters

Monday, 14 September 2009
Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will play it safe with star filly Black Caviar, electing to miss October’s Group I Thousand Guineas (1600m) to target the Flemington carnival.
Black Caviar tore chest muscles when beginning awkwardly in her Danehill Stakes win, causing the filly to miss a week’s work to allow Moody to assess the three-year-old’s injury.
“She’s almost over the problem but the week’s work missed means we won’t have enough time to get her ready for the Thousand Guineas,” Moody said.
“We’ve decided to take it slowly with her. She got back on the water walker on Monday morning and we’ll be aiming to get her up and running for the Coolmore Stakes.
The Group I Coolmore Stakes will be run on Victoria Derby day, October 31.

Belle Tivo 15/9/09

2009-09-15T04:55:00.004+10:00

Once a Year Race Meetings

Following the fortunes of Bel Esprit takes a person to different places. On Saturdays there are race meetings all over the Country, Laura’s Spirit (story on 10/05/09) has won three races, all in outback towns way west of Brisbane, Nanango, Talwood and Augathella and Belle Tivo was the first winner of this current season winning on the 1st August at Roxby Downs where they race once a year.
This was the mare’s first start and since then she has had another five starts. The second start was at Port Augusta and followed that up at Strathalbyn all in the month of August.
This month she has raced on both days at Birdsville where they have their Cup meeting on consecutive days on the first week of September. Last Saturday, Belle Tivo raced at Bedourie where the local racetrack comes alive three times a year: a gymkhana (last weekend in June) a camel race (2nd weekend in July) and the Bedourie races meeting (2nd weekend in September) and has had no success since her first start.
It’s a long way from Flemington and Caulfield but must be just as enjoyable for trainer Kym Healey
Birdsville races brings back memories of a time in the eighties when a bloke came to me and said that he wanted to buy a truck load of ice. He turned up with a big truck and 13000 bags were loaded on, then he showed me his sawn off shotgun which he had as protection and said he was going up the country (no name) travelling on back roads as he was overloaded to buggery.
I waved him goodbye, never thinking I would see him again and thankful that I could sell forty tonne of ice on a cold wintery Melbourne day.
However, he turned up about six weeks later returning the pallets and telling me he went to the Birdsville races and had a bit of bad luck.
The weather the day of the races was only 39c, cooler than the 45c he was hoping for, and he only sold 1000 bags.
Another way to lose on the racecourse.

Undercurrent 13/9/09

2009-09-13T16:10:00.003+10:00

The Rivers Secret is the Undercurrent

Undercurrent was bred by Contract Racing and managers David and Jenny Moodie have been great supporters of Bel Esprit, sending mares every year since he has been at stud. Today at Bendigo this very well bred colt jumped well from barrier three for jockey Danny Nikolic, went to the lead on the rails and raced away to win by three lengths in a very fast time of 56.94 (record 56.48) for the 1000m.
Trained by Danny O’Brien who bought him for $110,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling sales in Queensland and owned by Jellis Craig Racing Syndicate, M Arfi, R Clough, Live In Hope Syndicate, D Merrick, M J Szelag, P Reynolds & Yarraman Park Stud Syndicate, this fella out of a Flying Spur mare Rivers Secret and is another Bel Esprit with a great future.

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Undercurrent (AUS) [2006] Danny O'Brien

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Rivers Secret (AUS)

Sibling
STASH OF GOLD (AUS) [2002] - MADE OF GOLD (USA)8w-12p-43s $75,500Race: 1000-2400m Won: 1000-2200m Wet: 0w-2p-2s

Foals 2009

2009-09-13T10:01:00.009+10:00

2009 Foals

(click photos to enlarge)

Born 6/09/09 at 10:20PM
Bay Filly
Bel Esprit x Georgia
Owner: Kevin Sheedy

Photo taken when six days old
born at Eliza Park
------------------------------------------------------------------
Born 4/09/2009 at 5:05 PM
Bay Colt
Bel Esprit x Hanging Cloud
Owner Tricia Cox

Photo taken when nine days old
born at Eliza Park
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born 23/08/2009 at 4:30 PM
Filly

Bel Esprit X Ruby Trois
Owners: Robbie Griffiths, Peter and Brian Donohoe, Kevin Sheedy
at Ballymeath Farm, Swanpool Victoria

Photo 1 taken 18 hours after birth, photo 2 taken when 19 days old

Rebel Truce 11/9/09

2009-09-11T20:56:00.009+10:00

No Truce from this Rebel.

The most impressive winner of the day at Geelong was Rebel Truce who in the words of the race caller, was twelve lengths from the leader on the turn and then went to the outside of the field and took off only to want to hang in up the straight. However this entire got it right and went away to win by one and a half lengths.

Rebel Truce had finished second at his last two starts, once beaten in a protest, so he deserved today's win.

Congratulations to the owner, the ever popular Jimmy Matthews who with Mrs L Backwell bred this colt. Jimmy was away in Queensland and could only watch the win at the local TAB.

Rebel Truce is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Largo (she had 45 starts for 6 wins and 14 placings winning $235300) and she went back to Bel Esprit the following year along with her full sisters Gazania and Coversinga and the Gazania was the best Bel Esprit in the Inglis Premier Yearling Sales in Melbourne last March selling for $62,500.

Paddy Payne trained the winner with Ben Melham the jockey and pictured is Rhona Mangin who was the horse's strapper for the day and if she clicks the photo, it will enlarge to show her lovely smile

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Patrick Payne lands winner with Rebel Truce at Geelong
Denis Craven
September 12th, 2009
FORMER pin-up jockey Patrick Payne is showing his versatility as a trainer.
Payne unearthed a promising galloper in Rebel Truce ($4.20) to win the Schweppes Maiden (1340m) in eye-catching style at Geelong yesterday.
The three-year-old colt is among 30 horses Payne trains at Rockbank.
Rebel Truce confirmed Payne's reputation as an astute judge when the galloper was backed from $8 into $3.90 late on the TAB.
The win also provided jockey Ben Melham with the first leg of a winning double, following up on Brittle Express ($5.50) two races later.
Melham followed Payne's instructions to ride Rebel Truce patiently and had Rebel Truce trailing the field until the home turn.
"He's a smart horse," Melham said. "When he was passing the leaders he felt as though he was pulling up. He had more up his sleeve."
Payne said Rebel Truce, a colt by Bel Esprit from former talented mare Largo, was immature and would be a better horse next autumn.
"He's a green horse. Once he hit the front he wanted to shy at the grandstand and run in," Payne said.
Payne believes Rebel Truce will be best suited at 1200m to 1600m.
"His mother Largo used to race best when when ridden quietly and coming with the one run," Payne said.
"I think we will go quietly with him, perhaps race in the off-season over summer. Otherwise, I'm happy to wait till the autumn.
"He's a little bit soft-boned and the extra time won't do him any harm."
As a jockey, Payne won 18 Group 1 races, including the 2002 Cox Plate on Northerly. He also rode a winner over jumps before taking up training last year.

Spirited Halo 11/9/09

2009-09-11T20:24:00.008+10:00

A Day At Geelong Races
It was a great day in Melbourne today, twenty two degrees and Geelong only an hour away with five Bel Esprits running, where else would you want to be?. Suitably Connected was in the first race where he raced on the pace, fading slightly but not disgraced because the winner Lakedro is very good and will properly win in the City at her next start.
The next runner was to be Bel’s Pride trained by Niall Phillips (pictured with George Draper), only trouble was the jockey Dwayne Dunn who got a pick up ride, injured his leg against the fence just a the horses were about to enter the stalls. Owner George Draper was disappointed because she had been trialling well. He also has another Bel Esprit filly out of a Luskin Star mare, Julianne .
Rebel Truce won the fourth race (see next story) then Belahina ran in the sixth race, the Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock 0-62 Handicap over 1140m, she took an opening just after entering the straight, got to the front only to be run down by the eventual winner Brittle Express. A bit hard to find any of the owners, however the trainer John Moloney is pictured right giving instructing to jockey Luke Nolan

The last starter was a horse that my Son and I
had raced previously, the very honest Spirited Halo. He now has other owners including Brad Mc Pherson of Peninsula Bloodstock and Brent McGrath (both pictured right with Brad above). The horse is now trained by John White who won the previous race with the sixteen to one pop Hexy Legs. John ,was telling me that the horse is enjoying the open spaces at his stables not wanting to go into his box.

Spirited Halo ran a game race finishing third, well ridden by Matthew Allen and the only thing that beat him was his weight, fifty nine kilos.

Mooring suffered the same fate carrying the same weight later in the night in Singapore finishing fourth.

Mooring, Heedmaster(Ejercito) 10/9/09

2009-09-10T06:22:00.004+10:00

Bels in Singapore
Bel Esprit has now got ten horses registered to in Singapore with four being winners
Perfect Sky x Time Is Hope seventeen starts five wins four placings (S$229,117.50)
Mooring x Drop Anchor eight starts four wins two placings ( S$258,570.00) trained by Michael Freedman
Aranda x Orchid Lady seven starts two wins three placings (S$84,296.25)
Bel’s Ringer x Let It Ring five starts one win one placing (S$43,841.25) trained by John Meagher
The other starter is the quirkly named Ee Ee Uo Uo, two starts one placing (S$15,356.25) while four haven’t started
Belwins x Beauty World
Dan Baron x Clever Jeel
Fast Break x Pride Of Nevis
Surgess x Harvest Bird
The tenth fellow is Heedmaster who raced in Australia as Ejercito and won three races from twelve starts with $33,159 prizemoney. He is entered to have his first race in Singapore on 11 Sep 09 KRANJI Race 05 OPEN BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M COURSE C (LC) PRIZE MONEY: S$95000.
Mooring is top weight in the same race, so this will be the first comparison between Mooring and Australian horseracing
Diplomatic Strike is over there but not registered

Black Caviar 9/9/09

2009-09-09T06:50:00.003+10:00

Top filly Black Caviar in doubt
Tim Habel
September 08, 2009 12:00am
BOOM filly Black Caviar has a torn chest muscle that threatens her spring campaign.
Trainer Peter Moody said yesterday the injury would require a minimum seven days' rest. A decision will then be made on Black Caviar's future.
He said the filly was in pain and her chest was swollen.
"She's done it before. She's very fit, so we will bite the bullet, rest and hope it heals," Moody said. "We will give her as long as it takes. If it doesn't heal quickly she'll be out for the spring."
Black Caviar injured herself when she jumped awkwardly at the start of Saturday's Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

This article came from the Herald-Sun, the Internet sites write mainly about their NSW sponsors.

Owners Club Leaderboard 8/9/09

2009-09-08T03:58:00.012+10:00

Bel Esprit Owners Club Leaderboard
I have been able to track a few more names to add to this board, so if anybody thinks that these figures and horses names are wrong, they can email me at donohoe@net2000.com.au

At the races at Flemington last Saturday, a couple of leaders on this board were seen in deep conversation probably mourning about their football team Essendon that crashed out of the finals the night before, namely Colin Madden and Michael Duffy. It would have been a different story if the bloke that is running second on this list, had still been coaching.
Simon Hearnden-Hunter-----10
Snip Esprit6, Babieca Noire1, Bel Estar3
Kevin Sheedy-----------------9
Diplomatic Strike2, Queen Rene1, Van Der Star1, Bel Shoes4, The Phoenician1
Peter & Brian Donohoe--------8
Diplomatic Strike2, Beltrios3, Spirited Halo3
Colin Madden-----------------8
Bel Mer4, Black Caviar4
Neil Werrett------------------8
Bel Mer4, Black Caviar4
Corinna Slade-----------------7
Belcentra3, Tassolegy1, Seasonality2, Mooring1
Michael Duffy-----------------7
Diplomatic Strike2, Beau Esprit5
Alastair & Patricia McFarlane-6
Esprit de Roses5, Esprit de Bullet1
Peter Harrington-------------6
Bel Shoes4, Tollesprit2
David & Jenny Moody--------6
Spirited Halo3, Ibsen3
Shiranee Griffiths ------------4
Beltrois3, Anquitel1.
Gwenda Johnstone-----------4
Lotsa Grunt3, New Avenue1

Sizzling Spring 7/9/09

2009-09-07T15:55:00.006+10:00

A Sizzling Bel

Sizzling Spring his first start as a four year old and in his last start after four runs at Hawksbury on 23rd October 2008, he finished nine and a half lengths behind Broadway Queen over 1800m. He was then trained by Brian Firth
Today in the Riverina Crane Services Mdn (1200m) at Wagga Wagga, he was trained by Ken Parsons from Cowra and ridden by Michael Travers who sat him outside odds on favourite Onalist till half way up the straight where he surged away to beat the fast finishing Birubi by a long neck.

There was confidence on the Tote about his chances today, maybe because he won a trial at Parkes over 800m by two lengths in a time of 47.7s

Sizzling Spring (AUS) [2004]

Bel Esprit (AUS) - True Spirit (AUS)

Psd $45,000 Res $50,000, at Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale 2006 by Ducatoon Park, Kadina SA

Sold $35000, J Gask, SA at Magic Millions National Yearling Sale 2006 by Widden Stud, Widden Valley NSW

Siblings
EILATAN (AUS) [1995] - BLUEBIRD (USA)9w-13p-60s $165,500Race: 1000-3300m Won: 1000-2900m Wet: 6w-4p-17sG2 0w-0p-1s, LR 0w-0p-1s

PRECISIONIST (AUS) [2001] - BLEVIC (AUS)1w-5p-26s $8,600Race: 1200-2200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-1p-2s

Black Caviar 7/9/09

2009-09-07T13:40:00.002+10:00

Top filly unlikely for 1000 Guineas
Brad Waters
Monday, 7 September 2009
The brilliant Melbourne filly Black Caviar's spring campaign has been thrown into chaos after she injured herself in Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, pictured, said it was now unlikely Black Caviar would run in the Group I Thousand Guineas in October even if she recovers quickly from her injury.
"The Guineas would probably be too hard time-wise even if she's right to resume work in a week," Moody said. "As of now we don't have much of a plan with her until we look at her again."
Moody sensed the unbeaten filly had sustained an injury when she began awkwardly in Saturday's race before picking herself up to beat the colts down the Flemington straight.
Moody said the daughter of Bel Esprit was x-rayed on Sunday before the stable discovered Black Caviar had torn a chest muscle when inspecting the filly on Monday morning, Moody likening the problem to a torn pectoral muscle in a human.
"She was noticeably sore on Monday morning," Moody said. "She's got a muscle tear across the chest but she x-rayed fine.
"We'll give her a week off before we reassess things after we have another look. If she doesn't come up we won't hesitate to send her to the paddock."
Black Caviar's future in balance
Matt Stewart
September 07, 2009 12:00am
BLACK Caviar's immediate future will be determined in the next 48 hours, with trainer Peter Moody bracing himself and calling in the vets.
Moody fears Black Caviar may have torn a back or neck muscle in her clumsy exit from the gates in Saturday's Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
She stretched her unbeaten record to four in a remarkably tough win in the 1200m sprint after almost going down on her nose at the start.
It was her fourth poor get-away in an unbeaten career.
While the filly appeared to recover without noticeable soreness, she was given anti-inflammatory drugs yesterday and will be inspected today by the stable vet and chiropractor.
"It will be interesting to see how she trots up tomorrow and Tuesday," Moody said yesterday.
"I won't be surprised at all if she pulls up with some sort of strain.
"She's done it before. If that's so, there's no point wondering what races to set her for, because with a filly as valuable as her, there might not be any point going on (this spring) if there's a problem."
If Black Caviar is given the all-clear today, Moody said he had three options -- the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) or the Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), both at Caulfield on September 19, or the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25.
Moody said Black Caviar's trait of dwelling at the start - she actually pre-empted it in the Danehill - was a major concern.
"It will probably cost her a Group 1 one day," he said.
"You could imagine drawing gate one in a Manikato and botching the start against those experienced older horses who jump straight into the bridle."
He said there was little he could do behind the scenes to mend Black Caviar's barrier manners.
"You drive them mad putting them through the barriers 100 times," Moody said.
"It's a problem that will probably sort itself out with time, but it is a problem."

Black caviar 7/9/09

2009-09-07T06:26:00.002+10:00

Tough win takes its toll on unbeaten Black Caviar
Patrick Bartley

September 7, 2009
Black Caviar is unbeaten after four starts.Photo: Getty Images
TRAINER Peter Moody will monitor his unbeaten filly Black Caviar over the next 48 hours after she emerged jaded from Saturday's win in the group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
As a precaution, Moody has treated the three-year-old with an anti-inflammatory injection, which, he believes, will help her overcome her tough run against the colts and geldings in the Danehill.
"She had a tough run," Moody said. "She looked it this morning and I gave her the anti-inflammatory, which a lot of us use and is within the rules, to prevent a few aches and pains that she received after her run. I'll have her fully vet tested and get the chiropractor to run over her and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a pain in the back or the chest after her effort on Saturday."
He would only speculate on whether the filly would go to the Manikato Stakes or the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes or run against her own age and sex at her next appearance.
"She's an extremely valuable filly and we will be just doing what's best by her," Moody said. "I've basically told the owners that we will wait and see what condition she is in over the next few days." Black Caviar again scrambled moments after the start of the Danehill. "There was that and the fact she had a tough run," Moody said. "There's not a lot I can do with her barrier manners but hope she just grows out of it. But one day, losing a length could be costly in a group 1 race, but I don't want to drive her mad by taking her back to the barriers for more practice. Basically, I think it will rectify itself in time."
Black Caviar's stablemate Wanted debuted brilliantly for his new stable, finishing
powerfully to be second behind Black Caviar.
"Basically in the last two weeks he started to work well and I think he was just gaining genuine fitness and his run on Saturday was terrific,' Moody said of Wanted. "We could probably ponder other options for him now."
The group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400 metres) at Caulfield on September 19 and the Manikato Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley on September 25 are possible targets for the former Sydney three-year-old.
Strain on Peter Moody over Black Caviar's future
Matt Stewart
September 07, 2009 12:00am
BLACK Caviar's immediate future will be determined in the next 48 hours, with trainer Peter Moody bracing himself and calling in the vets.
Moody fears Black Caviar may have torn a back or neck muscle in her clumsy exit from the gates in Saturday's Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
She stretched her unbeaten record to four in a remarkably tough win in the 1200m sprint after almost going down on her nose at the start.
It was her fourth poor get-away in an unbeaten career.
While the filly appeared to recover without noticeable soreness, she was given anti-inflammatory drugs yesterday and will be inspected today by the stable vet and chiropractor.
"It will be interesting to see how she trots up tomorrow and Tuesday," Moody said yesterday.
"I won't be surprised at all if she pulls up with some sort of strain.
"She's done it before. If that's so, there's no point wondering what races to set her for, because with a filly as valuable as her, there might not be any point going on (this spring) if there's a problem."
If Black Caviar is given the all-clear today, Moody said he had three options -- the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) or the Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), both at Caulfield on September 19, or the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25.
Moody said Black Caviar's trait of dwelling at the start - she actually pre-empted it in the Danehill - was a major concern.
"It will probably cost her a Group 1 one day," he said.
"You could imagine drawing gate one in a Manikato and botching the start against those experienced older horses who jump straight into the bridle."
He said there was little he could do behind the scenes to mend Black Caviar's barrier manners.
"You drive them mad putting them through the barriers 100 times," Moody said.
"It's a problem that will probably sort itself out with time, but it is a problem."

Royal Saint 6/9/09

2009-09-07T06:18:00.004+10:00

Royal Saint by Four

· On the day when Esprit Lad who had won five races with three placings from thirteen starts, returned to racing at Moree after a break of twelve months, Royal Saint lined up as favorite in the Class 2 Bluesky Thoroughbreds Hcp. over 1200m.
· This Bel Esprit mare had won two races from three starts this preparation under trainer Phillip Ayoub, one by five lengths and the other by six and a half lengths (finished second in other start), was stepping up in distance, carrying 57.5k with Peter Graham aboard and she demolished the opposition to win by four lengths in a time of 1.11.39 on a dead 5 track.
Royal Saint (AUS) [2005] Phillip Ayoub

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Poniard (AUS)

Siblings

YOU'RE IN DANGER (AUS) [2002] - DANGEROUS (AUS)0w-1p-6s $1,000Race: 1200-1600m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-3s

PONTCHATEAU (AUS) [2003] - DIATRIBE (AUS)0w-1p-11s $2,200Race: 1100-1400m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

GOLD HELP (AUS) [2004] - DANGEROUS (AUS)4w-10p-32s $166,200Race: 1000-1400m Won: 1200-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Black Cariar 5/9/09

2009-09-06T05:55:00.013+10:00

Black caviar aims high
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun
Adrian Dunn
September 06, 2009 12:00am
PETER Moody is seriously considering the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes for Black Caviar, who extended her winning streak not without a few heart flutters in yesterday's Danehill Stakes at Flemington.

Moody outlined three options for Black Caviar, including two Group 1 races against older horses as well as a return to her own sex and age group, when she next starts.
He identified the $350,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19, a race she is likely to get in on the minimum weight, and the weight for age $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25 as the Group 1 options.
Click small photos by BEWC photographer to enlarge

The other race is the Group 3 $125,000 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on the same day as the Sir Rupert Clarke.
"They're three very good options, we'll just weigh it up," Moody said.
"My biggest thing is whether I can keep her at 1200 metres. I've always had the Thousand Guineas in the back on my mind, she has been trained towards that.
"What I've got to consider is whether she can maintain her brilliance for three 1200m runs. There might be more security going to the (Thousand Guineas) Prelude or the Sir Rupert Clarke."
After sending a shiver through Moody, jockey Luke Nolen, connections and punters who bought the cramped odds when she slipped soon after the start, Black Caviar regrouped to add the Group 2 race to an already impressive record.
Nolen said that unlike her previous start where she missed the start, Black Caviar jumped a length clear then slipped.
"She had to pick herself up and that was only because she was going to head them a length instead of sitting on her bum and then going," Nolen said.
"She was pressured. It's a long straight if you are leading and she is still a big kid, she just had a look. If something had challenged her, I think it would have refocused her."
Black Caviar ($1.45 fav) had three-quarters of a length to spare from stablemate Wanted ($31) as she made it four wins from as many starts.
Moody said his heart was and truly in his mouth after Black Caviar slipped.
"She scrambled. It looked like she slipped ass over head and went along the ground for 20 metres," he said.
"She defeated a very smart field and the second horse Wanted is a hell of a good colt.
"He's been going as good as anything in the yard at home lately so for her to do that and then still beat him it was an extremely good effort."
Moody assessment of Wanted was shared by Brad Rawiller, who, for a twinkling inside the 200m, thought Wanted would test Black Caviar.
"It was just a super run. Yeah, he had a soft trail, but I thought I was going to give the winner a fair bit of cheek 100m out," Rawiller said.
Wanted, Rarefied, Delago Bolt and Tollesprit pushed strongly their Caulfield Guineas claims.
Mark Pegus described as "sensational" the run of Tollesprit ($15), who had to be eased back to second last then had to change course again over the final 200m.

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Glamour filly wins again
Clinton Payne
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Melbourne’s glamour filly Black Caviar gave punters a few anxious moments before passing her toughest test to date to win the Group II Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Black Caviar was away with the field but sprawled as she attempted to muster speed, briefly putting punters’ hearts in their mouths before regaining her balance.
“She flew the gates this time but she slipped both front and back,” Black Caviar’s jockey Luke Nolen said.
“But she got her balance and got going eventually.”
The three-year-old was able to cruise forward to share the lead before going for home at the 350 metres, outgunning her opposition to get home by three-quarters of a length.
Wanted completed the Peter Moody stable’s show of strength by running on hard to complete at stable quinella, a half-length in front of Rarefied from the Peter Snowden camp.
Moody said Black Caviar needed to improve her performance out of the gates if she is to continue her progress into harder races during the spring.
“She can afford to do that less as her competition gets harder,” Moody said.
“But she was able to pick herself up and take a sit and she did it well at the end.
“Wanted’s been working well and he’s a very talented three-year-old so she’s done a good job to beat him.”
Moody said connections had three options to choose from for the filly’s next run, saying the filly could tackle the older horses at 1400 metres.
“She’ll get in on the limit against the older sprinters in the Rupert Clarke Stakes which makes it an appealing option,” Moody said.
“We could go to the Manikato Stakes or the Thousand Guineas Prelude as well.”
The placings and margins: Black Caviar (L Nolen) 54kg ($1.45 fav) defeated Wanted (B Rawiller) 55.5kg ($31) by three quarters of a length with a half-neck back to Rarefied (M Zahra) 55.5kg ($16) in third place.
Winner’s breeding – Black Caviar is a three-year-old filly by Bel Esprit out of Helsinge (Desert Sun (GB)).
The time and sectionals – The field covered the 1200 metres in 1.09.96 with the last 600 run in 33.63 seconds.
What they said – “She just began too quick this time and lost her footing. But she was good enough to pick herself up,” said Luke Nolen, winning rider of Black Caviar.
“Terrific effort. There’s your Caulfield Guineas winner,” said Mark Pegus, rider of Tollesprit (5th).
The market – Black Caviar opened at $1.40 before easing to $1.45. Wanted opened at $21 before starting at $31. Rarefied opened at $9 and eased to $10. The market closed at 117 percent.
Inglis Classic Prospects Impress At Flemington
Saturday, 5 September 2009:
Led by unbeaten filly Black Caviar, Inglis graduates dominated at today's feature Makybe Diva Stakes meeting at Flemington, winning five of the first six races, including three at stakes level.
And a number of them are likely to feature in upcoming three-year-old Classic contests.Despite sprawling at the start, BLACK CAVIAR ($210,000 2008 Premier, 3f Bel Esprit-Helsinge) was able to pick herself up and maintain her unbeaten record in taking out the G3 Danehill Stakes.Trainer Peter Moody is keeping his options open with Black Caviar, who was offered for sale by Swettenham Stud as agent. Potential targets next time out include the G1 Manikato Stakes or G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes - both against the older horses.She is then likely to contest the G1 Thousand Guineas, for which she remains a very warm favourite.
Caviar Overcomes Starting Stumble
Outstanding filly Black Caviar maintained her unbeaten record in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington today but not before giving punters a huge scare after stumbling at the start.
Black Caviar has a history of being tardy at the start, but today's race created another issue.
"We rectified that problem but she was a bit too good at it", said winning rider Luke Nolen.
Nolen shrugged off suggestions that Black Caviar may have taken harm from her stumble.
"I couldn't fault her", he said.
"They can pull muscles in their back but you normally feel that in the run."
"She felt fine to me and she felt fine coming back."Starting a hot favourite at $1.45, Black Caviar put in a final sectional of 33.63 to win by three quarters of a length from stablemate Wanted ($21-$31) with a half length to Rarefied ($9-$10).
Winning trainer Peter Moody was thrilled with scoring the quinella as Wanted has recently joined Black Caviar in his stable.
"She scrambled and I just hope she hasn't hurt herself", he said.
"Hopefully we've still got a horse."
Moody observed that Black Caviar was more agitated than she was before winning the Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley last start.
"At the Valley I thought she was a bit more relaxed", he said.
"She was a bit more agitated today and she's raced a bit fiercely."Nolen echoed Moody's sentiments, suggesting that the mishap at the start got Black Caviar stirred her up before her better qualities saw her through.
"She's a thorough professional but when we found the front it really didn't suit her", he said.
"She was having a look and I thought she showed a lot of courage late."
While Black Caviar and Wanted will take different paths from here on, Moody has ambitious plans for both three year olds.
"She's beaten a very smart field there today" Moody observed.
"The second horse Wanted, he's a hell of a good colt and he's been going as good as anything in the yard at home lately."
"So for her to do that and beat him, that was an extremely good effort because he's going to be hard to beat in whatever he runs in."
For Black Caviar Moody explained :
"We've got a few options. We've got the Manikato, the Rupert Clarke or the Guineas Prelude."
"We'll just weigh it up."
Nolen suggested that Black Caviar might settle better over a slightly longer distance.
"I'd like to ride her in a spot", he said.
"Today she felt to me like she might appreciate seven furlongs."
"She might have to go to the Thousand Guineas Prelude."
As for Wanted, Moody said :
"He'll go to the Guineas Prelude in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to that."

Early slip puts Black Caviar connections on edge
Andrew EddySeptember 6, 2009
IT TOOK her less than 70 seconds from the start to the finish but trainer Peter Moody held his breath for a little longer than that. For while unbeaten filly Black Caviar proved too smart in yesterday's $250,000 Danehill Stakes at Flemington, a slip at the start of the race caused her connections more than a moment's discomfort.
''I certainly had my heart in my mouth,'' Moody said immediately after the race. ''I just hope she hasn't hurt herself as she went along the ground for 20 yards.''
A quick examination of the muscular filly showed no obvious signs of damage but it will not be until she cools down that Moody can be certain Australian racing's most promising galloper can continue to enhance her lofty reputation through the spring carnival. ''She looks OK. There's no skin off,'' he reported later.
Bookmakers bet no more than $1.45 for Black Caviar as she took on the three-year-old males yesterday and so her three-quarter length victory over stablemate Wanted ($31) may have seemed slightly disappointing on paper. But given that she slipped badly at the start and then over-raced for the early part of yesterday's race, her performance in running 1 minute, 09.96 seconds to win had plenty of merit.
''In the end, she's done the job,'' Moody said. ''Wanted is a hell of a good colt and he's going as good as anything in the yard, so you've got to be happy with what she did.''
Black Caviar has a list of group 1 races at her mercy this spring if she continues in the form she has shown in her four career starts.
The three-year-old filly either goes to the elite level against the older horses in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400 metres) at Caulfield in two weeks or the Manikato Stakes (1200 metres) at Moonee Valley a week later. That is, of course, unless Moody decides the filly can stretch out to the 1600 metres of the Caulfield or Thousand Guineas. ''I've got the Guineas Prelude [1400 metres in two weeks] in mind for her as well but we'll just get home, let the dust settle and make our mind up from there,'' Moody said.
Asked whether he harboured any doubts that she could be as effective by stepping up to 1400 metres, Moody was emphatic in his response. ''I've got more fears holding her back [to 1200 metres],'' he said.
''Now she's had the two runs, she's looking to get out to seven [furlongs or 1400 metres].''

Black Caviar 5/9/09

2009-09-05T07:57:00.001+10:00

Danehill a definer for Black Caviar
Friday, 4 September 2009: The sky is the limit for Black Caviar if she can again dominate her opposition in Saturday's Danehill Stakes at Flemington, and trainer Peter Moody is looking forward to what he describes as her defining race.
The exciting three-year-old filly is unbeaten in three starts which she has won by an aggregate of 14-3/4 lengths.But she steps up from two ultra-impressive Listed victories to Group Two company for the first time in the 1200m feature.
"It's just a nice progression for her. She's stepped up and each time it's been a little bit harder," Moody said."The bar has been lifted and she's met it and it's no different tomorrow.""You've got the (Golden) Slipper form and a bit of winter and early spring form through the likes of Tollesprit and Grand Harmony.
"So it all comes together tomorrow and if she wins this race we're nicely placed for the three-year-old fillies races and maybe colts races."And if she can dominate like she has been then maybe we can lift the bar further.
"Moody has already earmarked the Group One weight-for-age Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25 for the filly should she live up to his expectations on Saturday.
The Caulfield trainer won the 2007 Danehill, which has been elevated from Group Three to Group Two level this year, with another filly Tan Tat De Lago who, at $31, went forward and caused a big upset when she beat reigning Horse of the Year Scenic Blast.
Moody has a much higher opinion of Black Caviar."As six furlong (1200m) sprinters I know which one I'd rather be on," he said."Everything fell into place for her (Tan Tat De Lago) that day and hopefully it does again tomorrow."

Bel Mer 3/9/09

2009-09-05T07:45:00.003+10:00

Group One Winner Retired
Written by Carl Di Iorio
Friday, 04 September 2
Group One winning mare Bel Mer has been retired following her disappointing performance at Caulfield last Saturday.
Trainer Mick Price notified Racing Victoria stewards of his intention to do so earlier in the week.
Resuming with a fifth in the $125,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last month, Bel Mer performed well below expectations on Saturday, finishing thirteenth in the $100,000 Listed Clamms Seafood Stakes (1100m) at the same venue.
That poor run signalled to connections that any ambitions of claiming a second Group 1 win for the year in the $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m), at Moonee Valley later this month, were faint at best.
Earlier this year, Bel Mer won her first Group 1 in the $300,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Bel Mer retires with four wins and seven placings to her name from a 19 start career, accumulating in excess of $580,000 in prizemoney.
Her three other wins were at Listed level however she was placed in stakes company on several occasions

Black Caviar Owners 4/9/09

2009-09-04T06:07:00.005+10:00

'Caviar' owners walking on water

Black Caviar races clear of her rivals to win at Moonee Valley last month. The boom filly will have a much tougher assignment in the Danehill Stakes tomorrow.Photo: Getty Images
Patrick Bartley
September 4, 2009
FOR MORE than a decade, five families, some from Sydney and others from Melbourne, have gathered at Echuca for an annual water-skiing trip.
The tradition of enjoying summer at the popular town on the Murray River has gained momentum each year as the families expanded.
In recent years, apart from the water sports, the five couples have talked long and hard about one day racing a horse as a group.
They weren't interested in large or lavish syndicates, they just wanted a racehorse to provide their close-knit group with the joy of winning.
So they put Caulfield trainer Peter Moody on the case and after a time, Moody discovered the horse. He called businessman Neil Werrett with the news.
''Peter rang and missed Neil but I took the call and he explained that he'd found a filly that would suit our needs,'' Gary Wilkie recalled this week.
''And I can still remember how really upbeat he was about a yearling by Bel Esprit that was being offered at the Melbourne sales … I could tell from Peter's voice that he was pretty keen on this filly.''
Moody said: ''Honestly, she was a cracking yearling. She just grabbed me the moment I saw her and I identified in her everything you want for a racehorse of the future.
''I was aware that $210,000 was a lot to pay but she was related to Magnus who I trained and at the time of the sale was going so well so this really balanced it up.''
Hours later and the water-skiing families had bought themselves a well-grown filly.
''Some of us have had horses before and we're never under any illusions that while you can get a good horse there's plenty of chances you'll get a slow one and there's nothing worse than paying up for an ordinary galloper,'' Wilkie said.
''But we had confidence in Peter and I think by having the five families involved it has just strengthened our friendship.''
Tomorrow, at Flemington, Black Caviar, touted as one of Australia's finest fillies and a winner of her three racecourse appearances, makes the quantum leap to be matched against colts in the group 2 $250,000 Danehill Stakes.
The momentum surrounding Black Caviar's future has some racing judges believing that the unbeaten filly could do what only one three-year-old filly - Surround - has ever done by winning the Cox Plate next month.
But according to Wilkie, while their trainer is understandably excited by Black Caviar's potential he's not being caught up in the euphoria surrounding the daughter of Bel Esprit.

''Her three wins have been good, very good, but each run is another step harder and all of us have tasted defeat and I'm sure that we'll be like everyone in racing that there'll be a day when she gets blocked for a run or, like she did last time, miss the start.
''Although anyone believing that it's a trait of hers would be wrong as the jockey Luke Nolen said that she was laying back on her haunches when the gates opened at Moonee Valley and that's why she was slow away.''
But Wilkie, apart from the dream of owning a potential champion, believes it has been a win-win for the five families that invested in her.
''Sure, it's exciting. It's great we're friends that have managed to get a good horse and we're entering the spring carnival but it's had a filtering-down effect on all the families involved,'' he said.
''The children and all of us that go to Echuca have a little share and they're just as excited as we are. In fact, tomorrow at Flemington we've got 33 of us getting together for lunch before Black Caviar makes her appearance in the Danehill.
''It's an understatement that we're glad that we acted upon all of those long discussions on summer nights about one day getting a racehorse and racing it as a group.''
Black Caviar, who seems destined for group 1 success, is already a black-type winner - a valuable part of the youngster's profile when she eventually goes to stud.
''She is valuable, just how valuable I don't know,'' Wilkie said, noting that it was difficult to predict what heights she would reach.
''Obviously some very good judges out there rate her highly and there's been some very, very large offers to purchase her or even purchase a share of her but at the end of the day we'd just like to keep the group together,'' he said.
''A few of us have had success with racehorses and we are vitally aware that every racehorse has its value and we're mindful that that figure may be reached.
''But at the same time we've even looked at one day breeding from her which would be another exciting concept - but a fair way down the track at this stage.''
Since Black Caviar's rise to such prominence, Wilkie and his partners have made inquiries about the filly's mother, Helsinge.
The mare raced with success but her full potential was never reached after she developed leg problems.
''She's got a lovely pedigree and a physical presence to go with it. Peter often comments on the scope and size of her. That's probably a great attribute with the races she may be tackling in the next 12 months,'' he said.
Wilkie and Werrett, after putting the group together, gave the usual warnings that she may not amount to much when her racing career commenced.
That fear, after three soft wins, has been dispelled but the two businessmen continue to reinforce the point that they are fortunate to have a very capable racehorse and to ''enjoy the ride''.
And that ride will continue tomorrow.
Hopefully for the water skiers it will be four victories from as many starts, which will ensure a summer to remember later this year.

Black Caviar 3/9/09

2009-09-03T21:56:00.000+10:00

Hardly Moody with the two favourites
Brad Waters
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Caulfield trainer Peter Moody is a relaxed man despite having short-priced favourites for both of Saturday’s Group II Flemington features, the Danehill and Makybe Diva Stakes.
TAB Sportsbet has opened the Moody-trained filly Black Caviar as a $1.70 favourite to win the Danehill Stakes on the back of her three brilliant wins, the latest being a four-length romp at Moonee Valley on August 22.
The Group I A J C Sires’ Produce winner Manhattan Rain has been installed as a $6 second elect but Moody said Black Caviar needs to have improved from her first-up run to beat the colt.
“She did it fairly comfortably at Moonee Valley but she’s up against a quality field on Saturday,” Moody said. “Manhattan Rain was prominent against the best two-year-olds in the autumn and he’s a Group I winner.
“Black Caviar is a lovely athletic filly and I think she’s going to put on a good show on Saturday.”
Moody’s other Danehill Stakes runner, Wanted, is rated a $21 chance by TAB Sportsbet but Moody said the colt’s recent trackwork was of a good enough standard to give him an each-way chance.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Tracy has opened as a $2.30 favourite to take out the Makybe Diva Stakes despite being beaten into third by Predatory Pricer, who is rated as a $4.60 chance.

Tollesprit 3/9/09

2009-09-03T21:47:00.001+10:00

Danehill Backup For Tollesprit
Race programming has forced the hand of trainer Shane Fliedner with leading Caulfield Guineas prospect Tollesprit.
Tollesprit was a surprising acceptor for Saturday's Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington after he launched his spring campaign a week ago with a barnstorming second to Starspangledbanner in the Group Three McNeil Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Fliedner said it wasn't his plan to run the three-year-old old in consecutive weeks so early in his campaign but after studying the race programming he was left with little choice.
"I am between a rock and a hard spot," Fliedner said.
"It is not that I want to run him this Saturday but all of a sudden I have got three weeks to the Guineas Prelude if he doesn't run this Saturday."
He said it was preferable to back up Tollesprit at this stage of his campaign rather than wait for the Prelude on September 19.
"If I had another option he wouldn't be there Saturday," Fliedner said.
He is hopeful that with an extra run now Tollesprit could have three weeks' break between the Prelude and the Caulfield Guineas.
The alternative would be backing up from Flemington on October 3 into the Guineas on October 10.
"With this run behind him he might be pretty fit by then and he mightn't need another run after the Prelude," Fliedner said.
"I don't want to be playing catch up then so I'm better off backing him up now.
"If you are playing catch up going into the Guineas then you shouldn't be running in it."
Tollesprit is on the third line of TAB Sportsbet's Caulfield Guineas market at $12 while he is $15 for the star-studded Danehill.
Unbeaten filly Black Caviar dominates the Danehill betting at $1.70 ahead of Group One-winning Golden Slipper placegetter Manhattan Rain ($6), Rarefied ($9) and Rostova ($11).
"It is a pretty hot field but it is not about thinking he (Tollesprit) can win it, it is about doing the right thing for the horse," Fliedner said.
"We just want him to be competitive at this stage.
"It is a gun field, no doubt about it, and this will give us a good idea where he is at."

Strudel 3/9/09

2009-09-03T17:42:00.004+10:00

Strudel's Reprive.

Strudel had her first start on the 2nd August, led all the way only to be beaten on the line by the Mark Kavanagh trained hotpot French Lion. Next start she finished down the track, ten lengths behind the winner Pirates and this Bel Esprit mare was entered in the 2009 August Thoroughbred Sale.
However trainer Russell Bell made a decision to get the mare inspected by the Vet who said she had a leg injury and she was withdrawn from the sale.
Today at Seymour over 1009m on a heavy track, there was confidence in the camp as Strudel was very well backed, jumped last and threaded her way through the field and won showing that there are more wins in store.
Bel Esprit has now had twenty winners this season, sixteen by the second crop four year olds who have a strike rate of 29%.

Strudel (AUS) [2005] Russell Bell

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Zapple (AUS)

Sold $22000, Northwood Pastoral Co, VIC at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Autumn Yearling by Greta West Stud, Greta West

Sibling

APPLE ESPRIT (AUS) [2004] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS) 1w-2p-7s $9,700Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1000-1000m Wet: 1w-0p-1s

Striding Success, Ibsen, The Package 2/9/09

2009-09-02T20:10:00.004+10:00

Another Three Winners in a Day

They just keep winning

September has started off with a bang with the Striding Success, the first runner for the month, winning at Balaclava over 1050m in a record time of 59.97sec. This three year old, in his first race after a spell, went to the front from barrier nine fighting off challenger About Me to win by one and a quarter lengths.
Congratulations to trainer Trevor Dansie who also owns the Bel Esprit gelding together with R N Liddy, B F Morris & A P Prosser.
Striding Success (AUS) [2006] Trevor Dansie

Bel Esprit (AUS) - La Bella Zoccola (AUS)

Sold $27000 at Magic Millions 2008 Adelaide Yearling Sale & Races Sessions 1 & 2 by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
Siblings not found
An hour and half later, Ibsen lined up at Belmont Park in the Support Your Local TAB Handicap (64) over 1000m and like the previous winner, went to the front from barrier eight holding on to win by a nose from the fast finishing Dante’s Diamond.
This well bred and costly horse is owned by Contract Racing Pty Ltd(Mgr: Mrs J S Moodie), D H K Investments Pty Ltd, P Anastasiou, N S Psaltis, Mrs G C Psaltis, A Sangster, P D Sidwell, some of the big names in racing and has now won three races from fifteen starts
Ibsen (AUS) [2004]Adam Durrant

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Scandinavia (AUS)

Sold $200000, Contract Racing, VIC at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2006 Premier Yearling by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
Siblings
DANAVIA (AUS) [2000] - DANEHILL (USA)0w-1p-4s $5,600Race: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-2sLR 0w-0p-1s

MAGNUS (AUS) [2002] - FLYING SPUR (AUS)4w-11p-24s $1,273,100Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1010-1200m Wet: 1w-0p-2sG1 1w-5p-15s, G2 1w-2p-3s, G3 0w-1p-1s, LR 0w-2p-2s

BALTICS (AUS) [2003] - FUSAICHI PEGASUS (USA)0w-0p-1sRace: 1200-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

WILANDER (AUS) [2005] - EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS)4w-1p-8s $314,100Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1000-1100m Wet: 0w-0p-0sG1 0w-0p-3s, G2 1w-0p-1s, G3 1w-0p-1s, LR 1w-0p-1s
Later in the day Khairesprit who had changed hands, now owned by Mr E Stone and trained by Lyn Paton , flashed up to lose by the same margin as Ibsen won.
Ten dollars each way all the Bels today would have made a profit of $143.00 with Queen Esprit finishing second at Randwick-Kensington, paying $6.80 for a place.
After finishing this story, another Bel Esprit was about to start in the seventh race at Belmont Park and putting my words into action, an investment of ten dollars each way was made and that $143 turned into $226
The Package, who won on 20th of last month when Bel Esprit also had three winners on the same day, notably Bel Estar, The Package and Drifting Spirit, sat in fifth place behind the leaders till entering the straight where he burst between the leaders and win by a long neck.
The Package is trained by Neville Parnham who races him with S N Smith, M Cook, B R Williamson, W C Connor, J Manning, W G Walker, T A Spence, Mrs C A Parnham. The jockey was Duncan Miller who also rode him in his last winning start
The Package (AUS) [2005]

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Sorella (AUS)

Sold $40000, N Parnham, WA at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Premier Yearling by Carbine Vale Thoroughbreds, Toolern Vale
Siblings
GENORELL (AUS) [2003] - GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS)0w-1p-8s $1,500Race: 1000-1425m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

LA ROSSA (AUS) [2004] - TESTA ROSSA (AUS)1w-2p-25s $12,200Race: 1000-1980m Won: 1479-1479m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

August Winners 2/9/09

2009-09-02T07:53:00.002+10:00

August was a good month for Bel Esprit winners
From 88 starts, 16 races were won by 14 individual horses
30/08/2009.WALTZES--DANCE THE MUSIC (AUS) (PICNICKER (AUS))
25/08/2009.SEASONALITY--QUATRE SAISSON (AUS) (CITIDANCER (IRE))
22/08/2009.BLACK CAVIAR-HELSINGE (AUS) (DESERT SUN (GB))
22/08/2009.CHAMPAGNE FLUTE-WOODWIND (USA) (WOODMAN (USA))
21/08/2009.BEL''S RINGER-LET IT RING (AUS) (ZOFFANY (USA))
21/08/2009.PERFECT SKY-TIME IS HOPE (AUS) ()
20/08/2009.BEL ESTAR-GAMELAN (AUS) (TIMBER COUNTRY (USA))
20/08/2009.DRIFTING SPIRIT-GET AROUND (AUS) (XAAR (GB))
20/08/2009.THE PACKAGE-SORELLA (AUS) (EUCLASE (AUS))
13/08/2009.CHAMPAGNE FLUTE-WOODWIND (USA) (WOODMAN (USA))
8/08/2009.ROYAL SAINT-PONIARD (AUS) (LAKE CONISTON (IRE))
6/08/2009.BEL ESTAR-GAMELAN (AUS) (TIMBER COUNTRY (USA))
3/08/2009.BEAU DESERT-DESERT STRIKE (NZ) (STRAIGHT STRIKE (USA))
3/08/2009.HEIGL-BLOND ROCKET (AUS) (RORY''S JESTER (AUS))
3/08/2009.SPIRITS IN THE SKY-COSMIC DUST (AUS) (HURRICANE SKY (AUS))
1/08/2009.BELLE TIVO-CONTE PARTIRO (AUS) (DANEHILL (USA))

Tollesprit 1/09/09

2009-09-01T08:55:00.001+10:00

Tollesprit Makes His Claim
Cyberhorse 2009
Jack Styring Published 01/09/09
Starspangledbanner turned in another tip top performance in winning the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield after drawing the outside gate and giving every runner in the race weight.
Whether he is simply too brilliant to get the 1600 metres of the Caulfield Guineas remains to be seen, more will be known after the $175,000 Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres in two weeks time, which promises to be a great day's racing.
While the good looking chestnut was receiving all the accolades, Tollesprit was also staking his claim as a very serious Spring contender.
The Bendigo trained colt was the real eye catcher as he was first up and a little more forward than most would have expected.
His trainer Shane Fliedner makes no secret of the fact he believes that Tollesprit is the best horse he has trained since Classiconi, but after Saturday he may now have every reason to have a second thoughts.
When Shane Fliedner puts the tag on a horse his judgment is pretty spot on. He served his time under an old master, Fred Hood at Rosehill.

Tollesprit 29/08/09

2009-08-30T10:12:00.004+10:00

Banner flies high in McNeil Stakes
Brad Waters
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Starspangledbanner has capped off a tremendous week for the Corstens family with a strong win in the Group III McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
click photo to enlarge, click line below to watch race
http://horseracing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR417566622744156426
Trainer Leon Corstens welcomed granddaughter Willa into the world on Tuesday, sired by son Troy who is also the manager of the Corstens racing stables at Romsey.
Starspangledbanner had no favours in the McNeil Stakes after the son of Choisir shared the speed from the outside gate of 15 and carrying the top weight of 58kg.
Danny Nikolic kept Starspangledbanner no closer than six horses off the inside fence before peeling wider on the home turn, finding the best part of the track to allow the colt to hold off the challenge of Tollesprit to win by three-quarters of a length.
Tollesprit held second place a half-length in front of Éclair Fastpass who finished strongly after Craig Newitt negotiated a path through the field in the straight.
Troy Corstens said the manner of Starspangledbanner’s win surprised him with the tough nature of the victory convincing him to tackle the seven furlongs of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 19.
The placings and margins: Starspangledbanner (D Nikolic) 58kg ($4.80) defeated Tollesprit (S Arnold) 55kg ($7.50) by three-quarters of a length with a half length back to Éclair Fastpass (C Newitt) 55kg ($20) in third place.
Winner’s breeding – Starspangledbanner is a three-year-old colt by Choisir out of Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold (USA)).
The time and sectionals – The field covered the 1200 metres in 1.10.285with the last 600 run in 34.88 seconds.
Tollesprit ran the fastest last 600 metres in a time of 34.29 seconds.
What they said – “It was a really tough effort to do what he did today,” said Danny Nikolic, winning rider of Starspangledbanner.
“A terrific run. His condition just gave out late,” said Steven Arnold, rider of Tollesprit (2nd).
“A super run again. He’s going along beautifully,” said Craig Newitt, rider of Éclair Fastpass (3rd)
Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner was rapt with the effort of the runner-up Tollesprit who was first-up on Saturday and said he would go into the Guineas at his fourth run in after two 1400m runs.
"He's not a gross-doing horse so going into the Guineas at his fourth run will do him," he said.
"I don't think I've seen a horse I'd swap him with yet."
The market – Starspangledbanner was well-supported in the ring, firming from $5.50 to $4.80. Tollesprit opened at $6 and eased to $7.50 while Eclair Fastpass drifted from $17 to $20.

Tollesprit 28/08/09

2009-08-29T06:20:00.004+10:00

SPRING IN HIS STEP
ADAM BOURKE
28/08/2009 9:54:00 AM
THIS weekend will help shape the spring fortunes of Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner.
Fliedner’s two best three-year-olds Tollesprit and Fomalite resume in Melbourne tomorrow and Sunday respectively.
Tollesprit is already rated one of the premier three-year-olds in Victoria, with the son of Bel Esprit on the fifth line of betting in early markets for the $1m Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
As a two-year-old Tollesprit won twice and was placed second once in three starts and the form around those runs is strong.
After cruising to an impressive trial win at Bendigo last Friday, Tollesprit resumes in the $125,000 Group Three McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield tomorrow.
“He’s probably vulnerable on Saturday over 1200m in such a hot race, but we have to start him off somewhere,’’ Fliedner said yesterday.
“I’m really happy with the horse, but this will just be a good guide to where we go in the spring.
“He’s drawn well (barrier three) but it will all depend on how the track is playing.
“If it’s a leaders track it won’t suit us at all because he won’t race up on the pace.
“My thought all along has been that Tollesprit will be best suited when he gets out to a mile.’’
Tollesprit will follow a similar path to Fliedner’s former smart sprinter Classiconi.
Classiconi ran a first-up second in the 2005 McNeil Stakes before running fourth in the C.S Hayes Stakes (1200m), third in the Guineas Prelude (1400m) and he won the Listed Concept Sports Stakes (1400m) before running a gallant fifth in the Caulfield Guineas behind Econsul.
“We probably won’t run Tollesprit in the C.S. Hayes Stakes,’’ Fliedner said.
“We’ll take each race as it comes and make our plans from there, but it’s fair to say it will be a similar path to Classiconi.’’
Classiconi was no slouch earning more than $330,000 from just 22 career starts before leg problems took their toll.
However, Fliedner is confident Tollesprit is a better horse than Classiconi.
“They have similar attributes, but Tollesprit probably has a little bit better turn of foot than what Classiconi did,’’ Fliedner said.

Drifting Spirit,Champagne Flute, Seasonality

2009-08-28T21:34:00.002+10:00

Eight Winners in a Week
About the time that my computer got dropped last Thursday, Drifting Spirit hit the line first at Sale. Now trained by the new training combination of Matty Ellerton and Simon Zahra, this Bel Esprit had two and a half lengths to spare on the line. This was after Bel Estar and The Package had won earlier in the day at Sale and Northam.Then on Friday night Bel’s Ringer and Perfect Sky were on song in Singapore with Mooring running second.
It is well recorded that Black Caviar won the the black type race at Moonee Valley on Saturday, however later in the afternoon the Ken Moses trained Champagne Flute won her second race for the month, at Kembla Grange, seven winners in three days.
Seasonality, who was previously trained by Lee Freedman, won at Echuca on Tuesday for trainer Greg Eurell with Chris Symons aboard and the progeny had a strike rate of over 20% for the month.
They don’t all win and Stellesprit didn’t win today. This gelding won his last start at Berrigan in March after missing the start by seven lengths and trainer Mandie Jones had big hopes for the horse, however he was entered for a race three weeks later only trouble was he wouldn’t go into the float to go to the races.
Today he entered the stall only after a lot of trouble, raced four wide and put up a good effort to finish fourth, have patience Mandie.
Ps the computer came back minus data, luckily it was backed up in May so it wasn’t a complete disaster.

Black Caviar Breeding 25/08/09

2009-08-25T17:47:00.002+10:00

Black Caviar Breeding
Virtual FormGuide
Jack Styring 24/08/2009
Black Cavier is quite an exciting filly, you don't win three races on end over two preparations without a touch of class.
Her trainer Peter Moody has a high opinion of her and rightly so, but there are no signs that he is getting carried away.
His feet are feet are firmly planted on the ground and he will make all the decisions as to her future and where she goes.
He feels she could get a mile against her own age and sex, if that be the case the Thousand Guineas could be his choice for her.
Jockey Luke Nolen was not all that perturbed when she missed the start in the small field, but it could be problem if it is not corrected before the bigger races come along and the fields become more competitive.
Black Cavier is already a valuable filly and with Black Type alongside her name, her value would at least triple at the flick of a finger.
The state of the world economic climate has had little effect on the bloodstock industry. There is plenty of money about for the right horse and Black Cavier is the real deal.
She was purchased for $210,000 as a yearling with her three wins grossing $194,250 to date which does not include VOBIS bonuses.
She is by Bel Esprit from the unraced mare Helsinge, who is a daughter of the flying machine Scandinavia by Snippets and the dam of Magnus.
Peter Moody had a walk up start when he purchased Black Cavier, being well aware of the family as he had trained Magnus.
Black Cavier is the first foal from an unraced mare, which is a bonus, plus a youthful mating at the time of conception being 12 years combined for sire and dam illustrates breeding to youth is the way to go.

Bel Esprit x Ruby Trois 23/08/09

2009-08-24T16:02:00.009+10:00

Born 23/08/2009, 4.30 PM

Filly
Bel Esprit X Ruby Trois

Owners: Robbie Griffiths, Peter and Brian Donohoe, Kevin Sheedy

at Ballymeath Farm, Swanpool Victoria

Photos taken eighteen hours after birth

Bel Esprit x Protection & x Nouchka

2009-08-24T15:12:00.004+10:00

Two Bels in Next Years Sales

Venturing up to Ballymeath Farm to see a baby filly , I came across two Bel Esprits which are to be entered into next year's Yearling sales.

The farm is on the Benalla-Mansfield Road, three kilometres past Swanpool and is managed by Brian and Lisa Martin (pictured) where they have thirty three horses on the property. Brian is

having a bit of a battle, he had a hip replacement five months ago and had to race off

to have physio treatment on his shoulder which he he has two operations on for torn ligaments. You wouldn't know by the smile on his face.

The yearlings are both fillies, the bay one is by Bel Esprit x Nouchka and the brown filly is by Bel Esprit x Protection.

click photos to enlarge

Bel Esprit, Black Caviar 24/08/09

2009-08-24T06:34:00.006+10:00

The Best from their Rear
They say some horses have their motors at the rear so lets look at Bel Esprit, a colt and Black Caviar, a filly as the rest of the field saw them in a race

The Bel Esprit photo (left) was taken as he entered the mounting yard before his first start as a two year old on Cox Plate day 27/10/2001 when he won the Pierre Fontaine Trophy (Listed). He is ten months younger than Black Caviar in the photo

Black Caviar (right) enters the same yard at Moonee Valley on the 22/08/2009 before winning the Arrow Training Services Plate (Listed), both belted their rivals on the days

The best way to see the horses is to click on the photo and it enlarges

Black Caviar 24/08/09

2009-08-24T06:26:00.003+10:00

Black Caviar To Aim For The Top
Peter Moody has the kind of problem other trainers would envy as he plots the path for brilliant filly Black Caviar this spring.
Moody, who rates Black Caviar the best horse he has trained on raw ability, is already eyeing next month's Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) with the filly who is unbeaten in three starts by an aggregate of 14-3/4 lengths and.
The latest was a soft 3-3/4 length victory in Saturday's Listed Arrow Training Services Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
"She'd have to go to the Danehill and be dominant against a better line-up than she met yesterday including the likes of Manhattan Rain who ran third in the (Golden) Slipper.
"If she did that again the Manikato would become a serious option."
"The Thousand Guineas is the logical aim. The question is how we go about getting there.
"If she was dominant in the Danehill she could go three weeks to the Manikato and the three weeks to the (Thousand) Guineas.
"I know it would be 1200 metres to a mile (1600m) but if she continues to settle and quicken like she did yesterday, I wouldn't see it as too much of a problem."
Moody says on raw ability, Black Caviar is the best horse he has trained and compared her to Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Hcp winner General Nediym who he looked after when he was foreman for Bill Mitchell.
One rival Caulfield trainer who will be happy to see Black Caviar miss the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) against the colts and geldings is Tony Vasil who won the Listed Essendon NIssan Stakes (1200m) with Carrara on Saturday.
"He's going along as good as most of the three-year-olds so far. He's a push button horse," Vasil said.
"(But) Black Caviar is a very, very good horse. She's excellent, I wish I had her.
"The only question mark you put on her head is when they are so brilliant you wonder if they'll get a lot further. Most times they don't, but she rested and finished too strongly so maybe she will.
"Whether she's one of those top class fillies that you see that come along once every decade.....but she looks pretty good. As long as she keeps in fillies races I'll be happy."
Carrara, who has won three races and hasn't been out of a place in six starts, is heading towards a start in the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 through the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at the Moonee Valley night meeting on September 25.
The Manikato Stakes is on the same night.

Black Caviar 22/08/09

2009-08-23T11:29:00.006+10:00

Caviar at the Valley
There was only one place to be on Saturday and that was Moonee Valley where Black Caviar was having her first run after at spell, in the Listed Arrow Training Services Stakes over 1200m.
Upon arriving three quarters of an hour before this Bel Esprit filly was to run in the first of the day, I went straight to stall fifty eight only to find she must have been elsewhere on the course doing things that horses do before they run.
Out of a large group of happy people in front of the stall came a guy, Colin Madden who introduced himself and turned out to be a part owner of Black Caviar.
He is an Essendon supporter from way back and remembers well the Eighties when Sheeds and the boys gave him his greatest pleasures from football. Next he introduced me to other owners, Gary and Kerrin Wilkie (pic.1) and then his Wife, Jannene (pic.2 Jannene and Colin). Jannene introduced me to her sister, Pam (pic. 3 Jannene and Pam) and then I met Pam’s daughter Allison Saville (pic.4 Allison and Pam) Allison owns a couple of mares that she is thinking of sending to Bel Esprit. It is easy to forget and I nearly forgot another guy Neil Werrett (pic.5) , manager of Werrett Bloodstock P/L.
Now it gets more interesting for the leaders in the Bel Esprit Owners Premiership, Sheeds and Simon W-W with ten wins each. Both Neil and Colin have an interest in another Bel, Bel Mer so they have after today’s win, seven wins, 1/G1 and five Listed races. WOW
All these photos were taken before they had their winning smiles.

Black Caviar Remains Unbeaten
Mark Smith - Saturday, 22 August 2009
Rising star Black Caviar (Bel Esprit x Helsinge by Desert Sun) kept her record at a perfect three for three when barely breaking a sweat in Saturday’s Listed Arrow Training Services Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
After sitting outside the pacesetting Noesis, Luke Nolan let the reigns out a notch before the home turn on the long odd-on favourite and she bounded away to win by 3 ¾-lengths from Miraculous Miss (Exceed And Excel) with a half-head back to Orbiting Belle (Spinning World) in third place.
Nolan was having his first ride on the Peter Moody-trained filly as apprentice Jarrad Noske had been on at her two previous starts.
“It's a good thing to be on her and not competing against her," Nolan said
“She’s still a work in progress but it was an awesome effort.”
While Moody makes no secret he holds the daughter of Bel Esprit in the highest regard he is taking a wait and see approach before committing to her next start.
"That was painless, she's got a lot of raw talent," Moody said.
"In terms of raw ability I've only been involved with probably one similar and that was General Nediym.
“We brought her here to have a look at the track and she performed like I expected she would.”
The Group I Manikato Stakes at the same track on September 25 is the expected goal this for Black Caviar this spring.
A 5-length winner at Flemington when on debut in April, Black Caviar followed that up with a hollow 6-length win in the Listed Bayside Chrysler Stakes at Caulfield in May.
A $210,000 purchase by Moody from the Swettenham Stud consignment at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Black Caviar (pictured as a yearling) is the first foal of the unraced Desert Sun mare Helsinge a half-sister to Group 1 winner Magnus and Group 2 winner Wilander.
Winner of the AJC The Galaxy (G1), Magnus stands alongside Bel Esprit at Eliza Park Stud.
Helsinge is a daughter of star mare Scandinavia (Snippets), winner of the Group 2 BTC Cup and placed in the Goodwood H. (G1), VRC Salinger Stakes (G1), VRC Lightning Stakes (G1), and Newmarket H. (G1).
Helsinge has a 2yo full brother to Black Caviar named Moshe and was covered by Casino Prince last year after missing to Churchill Downs in 2007.
Bel Esprit (pictured) (Royal Academy) has had his service fee reduced to $16,500 in 2009. The sire of five stakes-winners including the Group 1 winner Bel Mer, Bel Esprit covered 110 mares last year at a fee of $33,000 while he served a massive 266 mares in 2007 at a fee of $20,000.
Black Caviar serves up a Valley treat
Saturday, 22 August 2009: Exciting filly Black Caviar had her trainer Peter Moody comparing her to former outstanding sprinter General Nediym after she strolled home to win the Arrow Training Services Plate at Moonee Valley.
In his days working as stable foreman in Queensland for former trainer Bill Mitchell, Moody looked after General Nediym who won 13 of his 21 starts."In terms of raw ability I've only been involved with probably one similar and that was General Nediym when I worked for Bill Mitchell," Moody said.
During his three-year-old season the colt won the VRC feature sprint double in 1998, the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington.Black Caviar has a long way to go to emulate the feats of General Nediym, says Moody, but he was delighted with her effort in maintaining her unbeaten record in three starts which have yielded two Listed race wins.
Sent out the prohibitive $1.20 favourite, the daughter of Bel Esprit sat outside the leader Noesis and cruised past her on the home turn, clearing out to win as she liked by 3-3/4 lengths from Miraculous Miss ($31) with Orbiting Belle ($17) a half-head away third.
"That was painless, she won with her ears pricked. She's got a lot of raw talent," Moody said."The pleasing thing was that she went to sleep outside the leader, you worry that these brilliant type of horses might become one-dimensional."But I think the way she put her head on her chest and relaxed, you could have sat last on her."When they do it easy and she looks to relax, it looks a bit of a game with that type of horse, you always worry the day something does loom up beside you if they go any faster."But I've been fortunate enough at home. I haven't had one fast enough to test her there and I'll have to wait a while for it to happen on the racetrack."
Moody said there were a lot of options for the filly, but one definite aim is the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the Valley night meeting on AFL grand final eve on September 25.
The Caulfield trainer has to decide whether to run her in the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 5 or go into the Manikato without another start."I would dare to say the A-grade fillies went around last Saturday (in the Quezette Stakes won by Corsaire at Caulfield) so I think she still has a fair few steps to take before we get excited," Moody said."But all she can do is win and she's doing a hell of a good job of that at the moment."
Stable jockey Luke Nolen, who was riding Black Caviar for the first time in a race, was quite excited with the filly."We got halfway through the second (gear) but she still had a look at the post and she was a bit unsure where she was going," Nolen said."If she knew where she was going she might have opened up even further."It's a good thing to be on her and not competing against her."

Perfect Sky 21/08/09

2009-08-22T07:08:00.003+10:00

DOUBLE FOR BEL ESPRIT
Friday, August 21, 2009
Top French jockey Olivier Doleuze, trainer Desmond Koh and stallion Bel Esprit shared honours at the Friday Polytrack meeting.Gallic flair indeed came to the fore when Doleuze hit top form with a hat-trick courtesy of Bel's Ringer (Bel Esprit) first for John Meagher, before sealing the perfect night with two winners for Koh, aboard Doraemon and Perfect Sky.It was indeed a cause for triple celebration for the duo as besides the big haul being Doleuze's first treble at Kranji since he began riding here on a short break from his Hong Kong base, it was also a fitting birthday present for the Singaporean conditioner.

Doleuze, who gained a huge following during his regular stints in the late 90s up to 2002, took a while to hit his straps at this latest stint, having to wait until his 11th ride (Lucky Jester) to visit the winner’s circle.

But the popular crowd-pleaser was well and truly back in the limelight on Friday, especially following his faultless display aboard the second leg of his treble, Doraemon in the $55,000 Class 4 race (1200m).Doraemon (outside) gives Olivier Doleuze and Desmond Koh the second leg of their winning trebles.
“It’s taken a while for me to ride winners. Things weren’t looking too good, but I’m getting plenty of support and with a bit of luck the winners are coming back,” said Doleuze.
The night truly belonged to Doleuze and Koh who wrapped up the memorable night with the third leg of their treble in the $75,000 Class 3 race (1200m) with the Bel Esprit horse Perfect Sky, who came with a well-timed run to defeat Big Choice (Saimee Jumaat) by a neck, with Super Fighter (Matthew Kellady), 1 3/4 length away in third.
Perfect Sky is the first winner for the five year olds (1st crop) this season and he has now won five races and over $200,000 from his seventeen starts

Perfect Sky (AUS) [2004]D Koh
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Time Is Hope (AUS)
Sold $70000, Ong Tiong Seng, SINGAPORE at Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale 2006 by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
TARN HOPE (AUS) [2000] - TARNPIR LANE (AUS)0w-0p-9sRace: 1000-1400m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
OUR JETSETTER (AUS) [2002] - JETBALL (AUS)6w-7p-32s $174,100Race: 1000-1550m Won: 1000-1420m Wet: 1w-3p-8sLR 0w-0p-2s
MACCRUYFF (AUS) [2003] - JOHAN CRUYFF (GB)0w-1p-8s $1,000Race: 1000-1460m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Bel's Ringer 21/08/09

2009-08-21T23:47:00.005+10:00

Doleuze making the most of his chances
Craig BrennanFriday
August 21, 2009
Lightly-raced Bel’s Ringer kept the ball rolling for visiting Hong Kong based jockey Olivier Doleuze when successful in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1200m on Friday night.

Doleuze who is riding in Singapore before the Hong Kong season commences next month landed his second winner from just 23 rides.

Charging down the outside, Bel’s Ringer scored by a length-and-a-half over My Ninja (John Powell) with Super Knight (Mark Gallagher) a half length away third.

“I said when I arrived here that if I could ride five winners then I would be happy,” said Doleuze. “That’s two now so I’m on the way.

“I’ve got to thank the trainers for giving me the chance. It’s not easy coming in on a short stay as the trainers feel they have to be loyal to their riders.

“I understand that, but I’ve been working hard and I’m more than happy with the way things have been going so far.”

Doleuze is licensed to ride in Singapore until September 4 but is hoping to extend that by one meeting.

“I have to be back to ride in Hong Kong on the 13th so I’m hoping to be able to get one extra meeting here,” said Doleuze.

“I will ride here on Sunday, then again on August 28 and 30 and then September 4.

“I love coming back here and a change is as good as a holiday.”

Winning trainer John Meagher praised the winning ride of Doleuze who bought the gelding with a well timed run.

“It wasn’t a bad win,” said Meagher. “I lost him a bit in the run but then I picked him up out wide when he was running on strongly.

“I thought he would run well as he was in very good condition. He had held his body weight well from his last run.”

Meagher said Bel’s Ringer was still immature and that he would continue to improve with racing.

“That was only his fourth run,” said Meagher. “He’s a useful little horse and I think he can win again in his right grade.”

Bel’s Ringer is a four-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Bel Esprit from the Zoffany mare Let It Ring and has now won more than $40,000 for the Polar Bear Stable.

Bel's Ringer (AUS) [2005]J Meagher
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Let It Ring (AUS)
Sold $12500, S Quigley, VIC at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Premier Yearling by Lauriston Throughbred Farm, Corinella
CRUISAWAY (AUS) [1994] - RECHABITE (AUS)7w-7p-29s $22,000Race: 900-1630m Won: 1000-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
JINGLIN' (AUS) [1995] - CELESTIAL DANCER (IRE)1w-2p-4s $19,700Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1030-1030m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
HK-WINNING MASCOT () [1996] - CELESTIAL DANCER (IRE)0w-0p-3sRace: 1000-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
PORT CALL (AUS) [1996] - SEA ROAD (AUS)11w-18p-58s $206,300Race: 1000-1615m Won: 1200-1600m Wet: 1w-2p-3sLR 0w-2p-8s
MIGHTY ATALANTA (AUS) [1997] - MIGHTY AVALANCHE (AUS)5w-2p-17s $23,100Race: 800-1200m Won: 800-1060m Wet: 0w-0p-1s
LAURISTON ROSE (AUS) [2000] - LION HUNTER (AUS)1w-2p-14s $9,700Race: 1015-1418m Won: 1200-1200m Wet: 0w-0p-4s
LORD OF LAURISTON (AUS) [2001] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)9w-17p-65s $213,300Race: 900-1210m Won: 1000-1100m Wet: 2w-4p-16sG2 0w-0p-1s, LR 0w-0p-6s
EARL OF LAURISTON (AUS) [2003] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)0w-0p-4s $500Race: 1200-1400m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
LA FILLE DU ROI (AUS) [2006] - ELVSTROEM (AUS)0w-0p-1sRace: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

Winning Post 21/08/09

2009-08-21T09:56:00.003+10:00

Front Page of the Winning Post

Black Caviar to give racegoers a feast

Racing and Sports
Thursday, 20 August 2009: Expect to see something special on Saturday is the message from trainer Peter Moody who will saddle up unbeaten filly Black Caviar in the Arrow Training Services Plate at Moonee Valley.

The daughter of Bel Esprit has scared off many of the 17 nominations for the Listed 1200m feature with only five other fillies accepting to take her on, and the Caulfield trainer is excited about her return to racing."I'm very pleased, she's had a couple of jumpouts here two or three weeks back and went very nicely and her work here this morning was terrific," Moody said on Thursday.

Black Caviar couldn't have been more impressive in winning her two starts in the autumn by an aggregate of 11 lengths, the latest when defeating Demerit by six lengths in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on May 2."She's a lovely filly, she's got a great presence about her and she's just extremely exciting," Moody told TVN."I don't want to get carried away but I've got some nice benchmarks here for her at home and it's really exciting and hard to keep a cap on things really.

"She's done everything asked of her and more, so now she has to take the next step."There'll be some nice fillies there on Saturday and, as with all of them, you are looking forward to the spring to see if they have improved and taken the next step."Everything she's shown at home she's certainly done it very well and she has that element of class about her.

"TAB Sportsbet has served up Black Caviar at the prohibitive odds of $1.22 in its opening market and Moody expects her to live up to the wraps on her."I'd like to be training the horse that could beat her," he said."Saturday will go a long way towards telling us where we head with her, whether to stick to three-year-old fillies company or, if she has that special X-factor, you might look to lift the bar a little bit.

"Ultimately at this stage her goal is the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield but we could possibly lift it to take on the Guineas against the boys or you could go up 10 pegs to maybe have a crack at a race like the Manikato at weight-for-age."She's nominated (for the Cox Plate) but I think that would be a mammoth task. I think she's more in the sprinter-miler mould. You never say never but we'll let her guide us.

"Black Caviar, who drew barrier four, will be ridden by Moody's number one stable rider Luke Nolen replacing stable apprentice Jarrod Noske who rode her in both her previous starts.Her main opposition could come from the Lee Freedman-trained Maka Ena ($6.50) who finished third to the Moody-trained colt Reward For Effort in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February.

Bel Estar, The Package 21/08/09

2009-08-21T07:18:00.006+10:00

Bel Estar with The Package Unwraps
After an unlucky Wednesday when No Respite had the race taken away from him in a protest and Heigl and Anquetil both came home second, we certainly needed a winner to brighten up the week.
Bel Estar looked a good thing in Star Hotel, Sale Hcp (68) over 2224m and he didn't let us down, racing in the middle of the field in a fast run race, this 4yo horse by BEL ESPRIT x GAMELAN (TIMBER COUNTRY (USA) made his move getting into the last turn and raced away for a four and a quarter length win.
This is the longest race that any of the progeny had contested and he is the eight of the nine winners of the progeny to win as a four year old and the five year olds have failed to hit the line yet. Part owner Simon Hearnan-Hunter is to be congratulated as this win takes him to equal leader on the Owner's Premiership.

Bel Estar (AUS) [2005]
Sold $90000 at Magic Millions Gold Coast Conrad Jupiters 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Session 1-4 by Erinvale Thoroughbreds, Nagambie Vic
Siblings not found

Not long later over in West Australia at Northam, the second runner (Battle Ace ran third) to front the starting line. The Package fought on doggedly in the straight to win the Hollywools Mdn. The Package, a four gelding by BEL ESPRIT x SORELLA (EUCLASE) trained by N D PARNHAM and ridden by DUNCAN MILLER, 1300m

The Package (AUS) [2005]
Sold $40000, N Parnham, WA at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Premier Yearling by Carbine Vale Thoroughbreds, Toolern Vale
Siblings
GENORELL (AUS) [2003] - GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS)0w-1p-8s $1,500Race: 1000-1425m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
LA ROSSA (AUS) [2004] - TESTA ROSSA (AUS)1w-2p-25s $12,200Race: 1000-1980m Won: 1479-1479m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

There are a few problems with the blog page, Google is trying to fix them; it is hard to have patience. On top of that I dropped my computer onto the floor BIG BANG, got a message to say I have a fatal error.
This will be a test for my computer technician

Auction 20/08/09

2009-08-20T09:22:00.000+10:00

Auction closes 5pm Thursday 20 August
The Eliza Park / Living Legends Online Auction closes at 5pm (EST) tomorrow (Thursday 20 August) and has been a “tremendous initiative” according to Eliza Park CEO, Cameron Croucher.
“This is the second year running that Eliza Park and its stallion shareholders have offered up service nominations to our entire roster in an effort to raise funds for Living Legends,” Croucher points out.
“However, this was the first time Eliza Park decided to stage the auction via online tenders and I’m very pleased to say that the response this year has already exceeded monies generated in 2008.

“And we’re expecting a flurry of activity as the auction draws to a close tomorrow … after all, this the last opportunity for broodmare owners to secure a nomination to Bel Esprit (top right) or Statue of Liberty in 2009, while there are bargains to be had on each of the other stallions as well.
“Eliza Park is proud to be associated with Living Legends and I’d like to thank those who have taken part in the tender process as, I’m sure everyone will agree, it’s for such a good cause.”
VIEW AUCTION & CURRENT BIDS »

No Respite 19/08/09

2009-08-20T03:48:00.002+10:00

Carmody denied first city win as trainer
By Russell Jackson
Sydney
Wednesday 19 August 2009, 5:39pm

"You are joking ... how hard is this game?"
They were the words of Craig Carmody in the stewards' room at Randwick on Wednesday after they upheld a protest which cost the multiple Group One-winning jockey his first city winner as a trainer since taking out his licence in late 2005.
Stewards ruled Glyn Schofield, the rider of the Carmody-trained first past the post No Respite, shifted in when insufficiently clear of Triple Elegance near the 450 metres of the Al Mansour Handicap (1550m).
No Respite hit the line a short neck in front of the Chris Waller-trained Triple Elegance and steward Jim Walshe said in the inquiry the incident near the home turn cost Corey Brown's mount 1-1/2 lengths and ultimately the race.
The race was run at a muddling speed and Schofield elected to push forward earlier than planned on No Respite and took off about 600 metres from home.
Carmody told stewards he thought Brown was caught unawares by Schofield's move and allowed his mount to come out on to No Respite.
Brown said he was just about to get rolling on a horse who takes time to get through his gears and Schofield's move cost him two lengths.
Schofield later pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge and was handed a three-meeting suspension over the incident.
His ban commences on Tuesday week and he will be eligible to return three days later.
The upheld protest cost Schofield an early winning double after he teamed up with the David Payne-trained Chordata to win the Vale Pat Quinn Maiden Plate (1150m).
Htis is the fourth race where a Bel Esprit progeny has been first past the post and been protested against, they have only had one race dismissed

Black Caviar 18/08/09

2009-08-18T05:07:00.003+10:00

CAVIAR ON MENU AT MOONEE VALLEY
Monday, 17 August 2009: Peter Moody gets another of his top spring team into gear at Moonee Valley on Saturday with exciting filly Black Caviar.The filly, unbeaten in two career starts at Flemington on debut and Caulfield more recently, could have run in last Saturday's Quezette Stakes but was instead saved for this weekend's Arrow Training Services Plate.
Moody said the Valley run was the ideal time to try the filly on the tight turning track, with races such as the Champagne Stakes or even Manikato Stakes possibilities down the track.
Further into the spring Black Caviar is being aimed at the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, Moody confident the Bel Esprit three-year-old will handle the journey.Moody was meanwhile happy with the returns of both Headway and Typhoon Tracy at Caulfield last weekend.

Nissan Stakes to be reduced by O'Brien
By Mark Ryan
Melbourne
Monday 17 August 2009, 5:19pm

Danny O'Brien has 11 of the 18 nominations for Saturday's Nissan Stakes at Moonee Valley but expects only two or three of them to actually start in the race including the promising Cabeza.
O'Brien said he would finalise which other one or two take their place in the Listed 1200m event for colts and geldings after six of them gallop at the Valley in the morning.
He said some of the squad, of which seven were unraced, would be entered for the Seymour meeting on Sunday.
"You need to kick them off somewhere," O'Brien said.
"Cabeza will run and one or two others.
O'Brien has already decided not to run last-start easy Sale three-year-old fillies maiden winner Nun Faster, his sole entry in Saturday's Arrow Training Services Plate (1200m).
"I don't want her to be chasing Black Caviar. I think Black Caviar is the best horse in Melbourne," he said.
The Peter Moody-trained Black Caviar has won at her two starts by an aggregate of 11 lengths and is headed towards a start in the Group One weight-for-age Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the Valley on September 25.
The Bel Esprit filly is resuming having last raced when she defeated Demerit by six lengths in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on May 2.

Breeders,Four Wins 1/08/09

2009-08-16T13:11:00.002+10:00

Leading Breeders for Three Seasons (4 wins min.)
No starters Runs Wins Top earner
Mr LJ Fleming, NSW
…….…8… 51.. 18…. BLUE SKY $253,130
BJ & AP Donohoe (Foal shares)
……….5… 41… 7…. BELTROIS $132,415
Mrs AA Arnott, NSW
……….3… 29… 9…. BEL MER $599,575
Mr KG Williams, Vic
……….3… 28… 5… VIVACIOUS SPIRIT $260,010
Speedhunter Pty Ltd, Vic
……….3… 37… 8… SNIP ESPRIT $198,725
Contract Racing Pty Ltd, Vic
……….3… 30… 4… SPIRITED HALO $120,110
Tori Park Stud, SA
……….3… 31… 5… ESPRIT DE ROSES $100,140
Mr DA Blackshaw, Vic
……….3… 22… 4… LOTSA GRUNT $52,539
Menzies Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Vic
……….3… 26… 6… ESPRIT LAD $39,850
Huntworth Stud, Ms B Woodford-Smith, Mr P Stewart, NSW
……….2… 20… 5… ROYAL ESPRIT $171,450
Benson House Racing & Stud, NSW
……….2… 26… 5… LAURA'S SPIRIT $11,450
Ms B Hawking, Wayne Ross, Vic
……….1… 13… 4… BEL SHOES $117,585
Jasmine Park, Vic
……….1… 24… 5 …BEAU ESPRIT $96,989
K P Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, NSW
……….1… 25… 4… VIGNERON $54,200
D & E Dance, Mrs E Dance, Vic
……….1… 12… 4… KHAIRESPRIT $33,904

Champagne Flute 13/08/09

2009-08-14T07:10:00.002+10:00

Bel Bubbles
When Champagne Flute had her first start, she finished stone, motherless last at Canterbury. She had another start and then put out for a spell.
This Bel Esprit filly came back at Canterbury on a slow track at the end of May this year and finished third in a photo, a neck from the winner and the trainer Ken Moses must have thought that he had something.
Her next two starts were in the City on heavy tracks and not great results, however Champagne Flute’s form improved when she came second last start at Newcastle on a slow track.
Today at Wyong with Hugh Bowman on top, she broke her Maiden status winning by four and a quarter lengths over 1300m and the owners A Lamshed, S Doyle, D Royal, Miss S Uechtritz, C Woodcock, T Kench, G McCasker, R Dunwoody, R Wrock & Miss L McDougall are set to recoup the $30,000 she cost at the 2007 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale

Champagne Flute (AUS) [2005]Kevin Moses
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Woodwind (USA)
Sold $30000, D Harvey, NSW at William Inglis and Son Ltd. 2007 Classic Yearling by Kitchwin Hills, Scone NSW
Siblings
MOJAVE SONG (AUS) [1999] - DESERT KING (IRE)0w-5p-24s $4,600Race: 1100-1670m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-2p-8s
IRISH SKY (NZ) [2001] - STRAVINSKY (USA)6w-7p-21s $94,600Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1110-1400m Wet: 0w-1p-5sG2 0w-0p-1s, G3 0w-0p-1s, LR 0w-2p-2s
STORM KEEPER (NZ) [2003] - KEEPER (AUS)1w-5p-24s $14,500Race: 1200-2100m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 1w-2p-10s
CROSS SECTION (AUS) [2004] - CAPE CROSS (IRE)4w-4p-15s $55,500Race: 1100-1800m Won: 1400-1550m Wet: 1w-0p-4s

Breeders and Owners 2008-2009

2009-08-13T15:17:00.005+10:00

Breeder's and Owner's Premierships for Bel Esprit Progeny
BREEDERS
The winner of the Breeder’s premiership for the season 2008-2009 was
Lee Fleming 9 wins
Tollesprit 2, Aranda 2, Blue Sky 1, Ibsen 1, Rich Esprit 1 Beau Desert 1, Esprit Soleil 1

Mrs A A Arnott 7 wins
Mooring 4, Bel Mer 2, Forty Two Below 1.

Brian & Peter Donohoe 5 wins
Beltrois 3, Spirited Halo 1, Spirits in the Sky 1 (foal shares)

Benson House Racing & Stud, NSW 3 wins
D & E Dance, Mrs E Dance, Vic 3 wins.
Jasmine Park, Vic 3 wins
K P Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, NSW 3 wins
Menzies Racing Stables Pty Ltd, Vic 3 wins
Mr DA Blackshaw, Vic 3 wins
Mr KG Williams, Vic 3 wins
Mr K Sheedy 3 wins
Mr R Pietrykowski, Vic 3 wins
Mr RD Coleman, SA 3 wins
Mr RD Griffiths, Vic 3 wins
Mr VV Tu, Tas 3 wins
R A & J E Ferguson, NSW 3 wins
Roseleigh Park, Vic 3 wins
Speedhunter Pty Ltd, Vic 3 wins
Tori Park Stud, SA 3 wins
Dr WR Riches, Mrs J B Riches, Monterey Park, Seville Thoroughbreds, King Lodge Thoroughbreds, Vic 3 wins

OWNERS
The winner of the Owner’s premiership for the season 2008-2009 was
Kevin Sheedy 6 wins
Bel Shoes 2, Van Der Star 1, The Phoenician 1, Queen Rene1, Diplomatic Strike 1.

Brian and Peter Donohoe 5 wins
Beltrois 3, Spirited Halo 1, Diplomatic Strike 1.

Peter Harrington 4 wins
Bel Shoes 2, Tollesprit 2.

Michael Duffy 4 wins
Beau Esprit 3, Diplomatic Strike1.

Shiranee Griffiths 4 wins
Beltrois 3, Anquitel 1.

Mummify stable 4 wins
Mooring 4.

Trainers and Jockeys 2008-2009

2009-08-13T15:11:00.003+10:00

Trainer's and Jockey's Premierships for Bel Esprit progeny
TRAINERS
The winner of the trainer’s premiership for the season 2008-2009 was
Robbie Griffiths 7 wins
Beltrois 3, Cascabel 2, Anquetil 1, Baltic Spirit 1

Mick Price 6 wins
Bel Mer 2, True Persuasion 1, Mythical Spirit 1, Diplomatic Strike 1, Vivacious Spirit 1.

Michael Freedman 6 wins
Mooring 4, Aranda 2.

John Symons 6 wins
Regal Scout 2, Milakai 2, Belcino 2.

JOCKEYS
The winner of the jockey’s premiership for the season 2008-2009 was

Ben Melham 6 wins

Craig Newitt 5 wins

Billy Egan 4 wins

Black Caviar 12/08/09

2009-08-12T06:22:00.005+10:00

Black Caviar To Step Up This Spring
Peter Moody has flagged the possibility of unbeaten three-year-old filly Black Caviar taking on the weight-for-age sprinters in the Manikato Stakes.
Moody, who is excited about preparing what he describes as his strongest ever spring team, said the Group One Manikato (1200m) on September 25 was a definite option for Black Caviar before the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) on October 14.
"Why wouldn't you run her in her both?" Moody said.
Black Caviar, who is also entered for the Caulfield Guineas, has won her only two starts by an aggregate margin of 11 lengths and is among Moody's eight Cox Plate nominations.
At her April debut at Flemington she scored by five lengths from Kwassa Kwassa and was nearly two seconds quicker than the winner of an open class mares race when she won the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) by six lengths at Caulfield at her only other two-year-old start on May 2.
She is among an outstanding crop of three-year-olds for Moody this spring which also includes Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort, Golden Slipper Stakes runner up Headway, Kindergarten Stakes winner Wanted, and Tickets, who was second at Group One level in both the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes.
"Basically they are all ready to go," Moody said.
"They have had great spells and good long preparations and they will step out from next week at Caulfield."
Moody said Reward For Effort and Headway would lead the stable's three-year-old brigade in next Saturday's Listed Vain Stakes (1200m) and Quezette Stakes (1200m) respectively.
Moody said Black Caviar was expected to return in the Listed Arrow Training Services Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 22 and the same day Wanted would resume in the Listed Essendon Nissan Stakes (1200m).

Black Caviar Jump-out
Tuesday, 11 August 2009:
Peter Moody's headline acts all galloped well at Caulfield in jump-outs this morning, a few of which begin their spring campaigns this weekend.
Leading the way was Typhoon Tracy , who will return to the track in the Group 2 Liston Stakes on Saturday in the hope of remaining unbeaten after six starts.“She worked strongly on the course proper here this morning and pulled up well,” Moody told Sport 927. “At this stage I think she'll go to the Liston.“She's better suited at 1400m. She's matured a bit more and the tempo will suit her better than the 1200m.
”Exciting filly Black Caviar galloped well but will be saved for another week.“At this stage well keep her for Moonee Valley the following week. She's about a week behind Reward For Effort and Headway. She worked nicely on the course proper this morning but had a bit more of a blow. I'm keen to give her a look at Moonee Valley too. She's raced at Caulfield and Flemington with success but it's a good opportunity to have a look around there.
”Reward For Effort and Headway will both kick off their campaigns on Saturday, though, in the Vain and Quezette Stakes respectively.“He and Headway worked together. Both horses ran well and will take their places in the colts and geldings and fillies races for three-year-old on Saturday.
“Reward For Effort has always been an imposing individual. To my eye I think he's the benchmark colt in the land“Headway isn't a big horse but is strong and powerful and certainly hasn't gone backwards. She's gets a little bit forgotten with the hype around Black Caviar. She's run second in the Golden Slipper while Black Caviar has won a listed race against winter horses.”

A Spring In Moody's Step
Few trainers have approached the Spring racing with more anticipation than Caulfield mentor Peter Moody.
Whilst it is not exactly a make or break situation, the big fellow who cut his teeth in outback Queensland, is sitting on a handful of aces at present.
The unbeaten duo of Typhoon Tracy and Black Caviar, both exciting fillies, would be enough to whet the appetite of almost any trainer, but Moody also has Headway and Reward For Effort to throw into the mix.
When the question was raised about the ability of Black Caviar, Moody was quick to say "she is a very good filly and could ultimately get to a mile".
Having said that the One Thousand Guineas has been penciled into the program at present
Whether she is just too brilliant to run out that trip, time will surely be the deciding factor.

100 Winners

2009-08-11T08:10:00.004+10:00

100 Winners in 2009-2010.
One of the little noticed events happened in July 2009, Bel Esprit progeny had 100 starts for the month and properly only noticed by people who like to keep records.
For the year, he had 882 starts for 140 wins with 162 starters from 365 live foals and the 4th year crop had 130 live foals so putting all these facts together and working with percentages, this year the progeny will have about 230 starters for the year.
This all leads to setting a target for these boys and gals to better the one we had about getting 200 winners by the end of last season which he did.
Going thru the last 100 winners a year for fourth year stallions since the year 2000 these names were the only ones to come up

PoL Stallion.................... Serving age..... Live foals.. Strs/winners
1..Encosta de Lago (AUS), 1993,...8yrs.......373..........202/107
6..Redoute's Choice (AUS), 1996..8yrs.......416...........179/101
6..Lion Hunter (AUS), 1992..........8yrs.......461...........222/99
7..Commands (AUS), 1996............8yrs.......468...........194/98

Last year seven years stallions were an impressive lot and all capable of getting the magic 100 winners with Choisir getting 92 winners and Bel Esprit 82 (Australia only) The resultis more impressive when Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, South Asia and Zimbabwe results are taken into account, Choisir 101 winners, Bel Esprit 90

Stallion........... Serving age...... Live foals Strs/winners
Bel Esprit..............8yrs.................495
Choisir...................8yrs.................475
Hussonet...............8yrs.................434
Rock of Gibralter.8yrs.................449

Two winners a week would do it and the six in the first ten days of the new season gets Bel away to a flying start. I will keep records and update monthly.

Heigl, Spirits in the Sky, Beau Desert, Bel Estar,

2009-08-10T08:51:00.000+10:00

BEL'S BIG WEEK
It doesn’t appear that Bel Esprit – named Champion Victorian Sire on Saturday (1 August) for the second year running – is about to rest on his laurels.
Just three days into the new season, Bel Esprit logged a two state treble with Heigl and Beau Desert scoring at Echuca, while Spirits in the Sky lobbed at Forbes.
And, making it a quartet on Thursday (6 August), Bel Esprit entire grabbed the major prize at Sale with Bel Estar.
Indeed, since the season commenced on Saturday, Bel Esprit has had 16 runners for 4 winners and 11 money earners.
Heigl, bred by long time Eliza Park client Shane Stiles, was having just his second start for trainer Peter Morgan after finishing midfield at Wodonga in July.
Part-owned by Sirecam principal, Sport 927 commentator and former Collingwood great, Michael Christian, Heigl is a half sister to Kiwi Group One winner Rockabubble from the Rory’s Jester mare, Blond Rocket, in turn a full sister to Caulfield Guineas-G1 and QTC Sires’ Produce-G1 winner Chortle.
Shane Nichols’ lightly raced sprinter, Beau Desert, registered his second win from his past three outings when successful over the 1012m journey at Echuca.
Bred by Eliza Park, Beau Desert is out of the Straight Strike mare Desert Strike and is raced by a number of the stud’s clients.
A half brother to Desert Sun stakeswinner Real Time, Beau Desert is closely related to Wellington Cup-G1 winner Samasaan.
The well named Spirits in the Sky (from the Hurricane Sky mare Cosmic Dust) rounded out Monday’s treble with an exciting win at Forbes.
Closely related to Melbourne stakeswinners Slipstream and Blazing Aspect, Spirits in the Sky was bred by Contract Racing, Brian and Peter Donohoe and Kerry Good and produced a couple of placings from four starts, including a second at Wagga on 15 May.
Purchased by Shane Beattie at the Great Southern Bloodstock Sale a week later, the NSW trainer then produced him at Wellington in mid June before turning him out for a few weeks.
Resuming at Wellington at the end of July for a midfield performance, Spirits in the Sky was back in the winners’ circle at Forbes: not a bad effort – an $8,500 purchase scoring two wins from three starts in just over two months.
John Wheeler hasn’t overtaxed his nifty Bel Esprit 4YO, Bel Estar, who notched up a classy win at Sale on Thursday (6 August) to round out a sensational few days for his sire.
Having raced on just nine occasions, Bel Estar has brought home a cheque from six of those starts and the Sale win was his second after injury had the entire on the sidelines for nearly a year.
Bred by Simon Hearnden-Hunter, who is also a part-owner, Bel Estar is out of the Timber Country mare, Gamelan, a daughter of multiple Group winner Reno Belle.

Royal Saint 8/08/09

2009-08-08T20:34:00.004+10:00

Caviar in the Bush
Racing in the village of Louth, situated on the banks of the Darling River 100km SW of Bourke and 132km NW of Cobar, dates back as far as 1880 when the Louth Christmas Races were held on the 27th December of that year. Featuring a two race program, the two mile open handicap with prize money of 60 sovereigns and a maiden plate over one and a quarter miles with prize money of 15 sovereigns.
These early race meetings may have provided inspiration for Henry Lawson's 'Louth on the Darling' in which he described Louth as a place that loved a drink, a punt and a party!
Not a lot has changed for Louth in that respect and they have a reputation for staging a great party - an annual race meeting that keeps the crowds coming back year after year... racegoers love the sheer isolation of Louth, the colourful bush characters and the experience of watching the horses thunder past the winning post in a cloud of dust.

My Son, Peter went there three years ago, had a great time. Two thousand people sleep in the camping area the night before and from 11PM on the camp gets noisy; they find the best way to make a lot of noise is to rev up the fast cars.They are all a bit slow waking up in the morning then they join the other two thousand at the races followed by all in bed by 10PM and the only noise is snooooring
The Black Caviar (he won two races by eleven and a half lengths) of the bush, Royal Saint BEL ESPRIT x PONIARD (LAKE CONISTON (IRE) came there today and won by six and a half lengths, following up his five lengths win at Wellington on 27th July.
Phillip Ayoub has done wonders with this horse who had his first start for Peter Moody as a three year old in December last year. This filly was ridden by James Geppert who rode twenty two winners last year, beating the gelding Footy Legend (Choisir), trained by Bret Cavanough who took six horses to the meeting

Bel Esprit/Polar Sky 7/08/09

2009-08-08T08:29:00.003+10:00

Bel Esprit Top Colt Sold
New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd
Christchurch turned on a cracker with spirited bidding the order of the day for New Zealand Bloodstock's annual South Island Sale of Two Year Olds and Mixed Bloodstock.
The top colt of the day was Esker Lodge's Lot 37, by Bel Esprit from the Hurricane Sky mare Polar Sky. Te Akau Racing's David Ellis secured the strongly built youngster for $65,000.
This colt had previously been sold at the Inglis Weanling sales in Melbourne in May 2008 for $10,000 and sold again at the Inglis Weanling sales in Sydney a month later, for $30,000
Ellis finished the leading purchaser at the sale, signing for four lots amounting to $135,500.
The two-year-old section finished slightly back, averaging $13,268, 18% lower than last year's record South Island Sale average of $16,215.
Total receipts for the session totalled $1,592,700 for 120 lots sold and a clearance of 75%.
The overall sale average settled at $11,709 from $14,899 last year and $12,478 in 2007. A total of 145 horses were traded from 210 catalogues to bring an aggregate of $1,697,750 back from $2,115,700 for 116 last year.
Focus now turns to New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale of Two Year Olds on 17 & 18 November with entries for the sale due on 24 August. Contact reception@nzb.co.nz for a hard copy of today's sale results to request an entry form.

Top Victorian Stallion 7/08/09

2009-08-08T08:24:00.001+10:00

Bel Esprit top of the Victorian list in stallion earning for 2008-09
Andrew Garvey
August 7, 2009
AFTER a frustrating run of placings, Encosta De Lago finally took out the general sires' title by earnings in 2007-2008 and had no trouble making it back-to-back wins in the season just completed.
In fact, there was little change at the top of the order from last year, although Redoute's Choice bounced back from an ordinary - by his standards - 10th the previous year to be second.
There were only three changes to the top 10 with Choisir, Testa Rossa and Red Ransom replacing Flying Spur, Hussonet and O'Reilly.
With his number of runners dwindling, Danehill continued his drop down the list, coming in 59th, but he had a win in the broodmare sires' list over Centaine.
While he won by about $600,000, Danehill's 203 individual winners was well ahead of Rory's Jester, whose daughters produced 160 individual winners.
Charge Forward was champion first-season sire by earnings, with another Arrowfield stallion, Not A Single Doubt, taking out the title by winners, drawing clear of Fastnet Rock with a winner on the penultimate day of the season.
In Victoria, Bel Esprit took out the John Ingleton Award for champion stallion, with Blue Gum Farm's Elvstroem following in some of his predecessors' footsteps in taking out champion first-season honours. Blue Gum Farm also took out the champion broodmare-sire title with Last Tycoon.
Champion Victorian broodmare was Swing Queen, dam of Thousand Guineas winner Gallica. Bob and Rosemary Scarborough, who bred Gallica, later sold Swing Queen at a Magic Millions sale for $75,000.
David and Jenny Moodie's Contract Racing was the leading Victorian breeder for the season with the award based on points allocated in group and listed races.
In New Zealand, O'Reilly held on to win over Zabeel in the Centaine Award, which is based on worldwide prizemoney earned by NZ-based stallions.

Bel Estar 6/08/09

2009-08-07T13:22:00.002+10:00

Our Star Bel Estar
Day six of the new season and up pops Bel Estar, the favourite in the last at Sale.
Coming from back in the field he loomed up and the turn sprinting to the front and winning very comfortably on the line.
The extra distance of 1713m was more to his liking and there is nothing to sat he wont run 2000m.
Bred by Simon Hearnden-Hunter who bred Snip Esprit (six wins), Babieca Noire (one win), this takes prizemoney won by this Bel Esprit Stallion to $33,800 from nine starts (two wins)
Simon now joins the leaderboard of wins by an Owner with his ninth win today. and shares part of the $294,000 won by horses he has kept an interest in.
Bel Estar (AUS) [2005]
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Gamelan (AUS)
Sold $90000 at Magic Millions Gold Coast Conrad Jupiters 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Session 1-4 by Erinvale Thoroughbreds, Nagambie Vic
There are no siblings

Heigl, Spirits in the Sky, Beau Desert 3/08/09

2009-08-07T13:15:00.004+10:00

Three on Day Three of the New Season
It was a big day for Bel Esprit on Monday the 3rd August, five starters and three winners.
Heigl started it off when she dead heated in the Moama Bowling Club Maiden Plate at Echuca over 1212 m leading all the way up the straight to be caught right on the line.
Trained by Peter Morgan this mare is out of a Rorys’ Jester mare Blond Rocket and was passed in at the magic Millions National Select sale for $77,500 with a reserve of $80,000
Siblings
AS LAME AS (AUS) [1997] - SIR LAURENCE (NZ) 0w-0p-1sRace: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
ROCKABUBBLE (AUS) [2000] - BUBBLE GUM FELLOW (JPN)6w-3p-20s $134,400Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1100-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-1sG1 1w-0p-4s, G2 0w-0p-1s, G3 0w-0p-1s, LR 1w-1p-3s
ALISA FREE (AUS) [2001] - FAVORITE TRICK (USA)0w-1p-4s $1,400Race: 1000-1600m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
GENUINE ROCKET (AUS) [2003] - GENUINE (JPN)0w-0p-6s $100Race: 1200-1900m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

An hour later Spirits in the Sky won his second race for Steve and Simone Beattie when he fought back after being headed, to win the Ainsworth/Rodgers Ind. Hcp-C1 over 1300m at Forbes.
He is proving to be a very cheap steal for Steve winning $12.500 from his three starts and will be keenly followed by one of his previous owners when he comes back from a spell.
He was ridden by apprentice Kody Nestor who was aboard when he won his first race at Wellington. Out of a Hurricane Sky mare Cosmic Dust, he is a full brother to Cosmic Vision who finished third in the race before Heigl won at Echuca earlier in the day.
Spirits In The Sky (AUS) [2005]Steve Beattie
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Cosmic Dust (AUS)
Sold $8500, S Beattie, NSW at William Inglis and Son Ltd. Great Southern Bloodstock Sale 2009 by Contract Racing Pty Ltd, Melbourne
SHOOTING STARS (AUS) [2004] - RUBITON (AUS)2w-8p-25s $52,200Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1000-1000m Wet: 1w-3p-6s
COSMIC VISION (AUS) [2006] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS)0w-1p-3s $1,600Race: 1100-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-1p-1s*Next Run: ECHA 3/08/2009 Deniliquin Rsl Mdn Plate

Back to Echuca for the last race and Beau Desert was the third winner when he had a great tussle with the runner up Banker’s Lamp all the way up the straight to win by a neck.
He is in the Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale at Oatlands next Friday (lot 328) and buyers would have been impressed with the way he won this race.
Bred by Lee Fleming this Bel Esprit gelding has now won two races and a second from eight starts
Beau Desert (AUS) [2005]Shane Nichols
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Desert Strike (NZ)
Psd $75,000 Res $80,000, at Magic Millions Gold Coast Conrad Jupiters 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Session 1-4 by Eliza Park, Kerrie Vic
KYZYL (NZ) [1995] - KREISLER (IRE)0w-0p-3sRace: 1200-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s
REAL TIME (NZ) [1996] - DESERT SUN (GB)7w-13p-40s $214,500Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1000-1450m Wet: 0w-1p-3sG2 0w-0p-1s, G3 0w-2p-3s, LR 1w-2p-10s
TWIN DESERTS (NZ) [1997] - DESERT SUN (GB)1w-7p-35s $7,100Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1200-1200m Wet: 0w-1p-9sLR 0w-0p-1s
DESERT FAME (NZ) [1999] - CLASSIC FAME (USA)0w-0p-2s $200Race: 800-200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
ARONDAN (AUS) [2000] - ANZIYAN (USA)5w-3p-24s $70,600Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1050-1450m Wet: 1w-0p-2sLR 0w-0p-3s
REAL DEAL (AUS) [2004] - DESERT SUN (GB)0w-3p-6s $1,900Race: 1000-1206m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

Belle Tivo 1/08/09

2009-08-07T13:08:00.002+10:00

A First at Roxby Downs
The first winner of the 2009-2010 season came on the first day and was won at one of the most unusual places, Roxby Downs. They only have one meeting for the year.
This year, the Roxby Downs Racing Club held the annual Gymkhana and Picnic Races. $25,000 prize money was on offer for competitors in the 26 events and this year organisers were hoping to attract about 800.
There were a total of six flat races held on the day. One of the most popular events, and one that required transport of the wheeled variety was the wheelbarrow race, with winners taking home 15 cartons of beer and the entertainment didn’t stop when the sun went down.
Mick Whittle took six horses up to race while Kym Healy took three, one being a Bel Esprit first starter, Belle Tivo, out of a Danehill Mare, Conte Partiro and bought by Kym and Ms C Shannon at the Magic Millions Sale in Adelaide 2007 for $11,000.
Belle Tivo won the $3,500 1000m Maiden event and was ridden by P Crich, winning by a length and a half starting at $5.50

Bel Esprit 2006-2009 Stats

2009-08-02T09:53:00.005+10:00

Crop Stats over Three Years
Overall
---------starts--wins--place--total--% win--% place
1st crop--714---112----163---275---15.69--38.5
2nd crop-513---78-----116---194---15.20--37.8
3rd crop--78---14------19----33----17.95--42.3
Total---1305--204----298---502---15.63--38.5
Winners
--------Starters--Winners--% win--Live foals
1st crop---71--------46------64.8---94
2nd crop--80--------50-----62.5---122
3rd crop--34--------11------32.4---149
Total----185-------107------57.8---365
These include Hangang Ruby's two wins in South Korea

Runners ages
------------wins-----%
2 year olds 211-----16.11
3 year olds 740-----15.14
4 year olds 354-----16.38
Total------1305

Wins by seasons---wins
From 1/8/06 till 31/7/07---10
From 1/8/07 till 31/7/08---54
From 1/8/08 till 31/7/09--140
Total----------------------204

Bel Esprit Free Service 1/08/09

2009-08-01T07:19:00.003+10:00

Bendigo Cup Day Free Service to Bel Esprit
THE powerful Lloyd Williams racing team will use the Bendigo Jockey Club as part of its base for the spring carnival.
Starting this Sunday, horses of the calibre of 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, last year’s Melbourne Cup placegetter C’est La Guerre and multiple Group One placegetter Zipping will regularly use the course proper at Bendigo for training runs leading into Melbourne’s feature events.
For the second year in succession Efficient, C’est La Guerre and Zipping will step up their spring preparation with exhibition gallops in between races at Sunday’s BJC meeting.
Williams’ horses are stabled at his expansive Macedon base where Bel Esprit spent his racing days and racing manager Jim Bowler said the BJC was the perfect location for their stable stars to work out.
Three of Eliza Park Stud’s premier stallions - Shinzig, Delago Brom and Danbird - will parade in between races four and five.
The BJC and Eliza Park have joined forces to offer owners of fillies and mares an added incentive to run their horses at the BJC over spring.
On Sunday the winner of the ShinzigEliza Park Handicap will receive a free service to Shinzig, while future events on September 13 and on Bendigo Cup day will also bonuses.
A 3YO fillies event on Bendigo Cup day will carry a free service to boom sire Bel Esprit.

Bel Esprit 31/07/09

2009-07-31T06:06:00.006+10:00

Bel has Best Average over ALL Seasons
Bel Esprit can proudly boast that he has the best average win percentage of Stallion’s progeny over all seasons.
Stallion--- Wins--Win%--Ind.W--Runs--Ind.R
BEL ESPRIT
-------------201---16%----105----1295--183
MORE THAN READY
-------------535---15%----203----3570--315
REDOUTE'S CHOICE
-------------837---15%----329----5422--457
DANETIME
-------------294---15%----110----1938--155
HUSSONET
-------------218---15%----108----1483--176
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
-------------203---14%----93-----1495--190
CHOISIR
-------------261---14%----130----1894--231
COMMANDS
-------------910---14%----306----6297--442
SEQUALO
------------1210---13%----368----9358--576
TESTA ROSSA
-------------573---13%----217-----4471--311
ENCOSTA DE LAGO
------------1587---12%----533---12884--640

Bel Esprit 30/07/09

2009-07-31T05:17:00.003+10:00

Bel Esprit is Champion Victorian Stallion
30 Jul 2009
Racing Victoria Ltd
The annual Victorian Owners & Breeders Awards event will be held at Caulfield on Saturday to honour outstanding achievements in breeding and racing from the 2008/2009 season.
The event is proudly sponsored by Stable Financial who are strong supporters of the thoroughbred industry, in particular the Victorian breeding sector.
“Stable Financial have enjoyed a long association hosting functions on the Horse’s Birthday so when the opportunity to partner with the industry on an event such as this was presented we jumped at the chance.
“Our firm’s client base consists of a large number of owners and breeders so we are delighted to be honouring them and others on Saturday at Caulfield,” said Stable Financial Director Adam Tims.
The day will see awards presented to the Leading Trainer, Owner and Nominator of Super VOBIS as well as TBV awards including Champion Victoria Stallion, Champion Freshman Stallion and Leading Victorian Breeder.
For the first time, Peter Moody has taken out the Super VOBIS Trainers Premiership which has previously been dominated by David Hayes.
“Our stable has made a conscious decision to target Victorian bred yearlings at the sales to take advantage of the Super VOBIS scheme and we have also received support from a number of Victorian breeders who have retained their yearlings and sent them to us.
“This has obviously paid handsome dividends this season and it is a tribute to the quality stock being produced in Victoria,” said Peter Moody’s Racing Manager Jeff O’Connor.
Not surprisingly the Champion Victorian Stallion has gone to boom sire Bel Esprit.The former champion sprinter has enjoyed a breakout season with Group 1 winner Bel Mer (Robert Sangster Stakes) and boom youngster Black Caviar amongst his successes.
First season honours go to Blue Gum resident Elvstroem which joins an illustrious list of stallions to take out that award over the years.
“Victoria has built up an exciting stallion roster over the past five years and it is testament to the hard work by Eliza Park and Blue Gum Farm that they have won these awards,” said TBV President Tim Johnson.

Alesprit 30/07/09

2009-07-30T13:59:00.002+10:00

Alesprit Joins Laming Stable
Thursday, 30 July 2009:
Brilliant North Queensland filly Alesprit has recovered from a leg injury and has joined the Bevan Laming stable for a metropolitan campaign. Alesprit was transferred last week from Rockhampton trainer Tom Bourke after her owners decided she deserved a chance to run for bigger prizemoney.
She is the second exciting prospect to leave the Bourke stable this season after he lost another of his stars Abirra - a subsequent Brisbane winner - for the same reason.
Alesprit's first start for Bourke in Rockhampton in February resulted in a 11 lengfths win in 2YO event over 1000m in less than 57 seconds.
She then didn't race until April when she was beaten only a long neck in the Capricorn Classic, a great effort as she was later found to have suffered a fetlock injury that required an operation to remove bone fragments.
She was sent to Laming after pre-training after plans to send her to Melbourne trainer Mick Price for the spring carnival were shelved.

La Vie Esprit 29/07/09

2009-07-29T14:53:00.005+10:00

The Spirit of Life
La Vie Esprit, what a great name and the translation means The spirit of life and the Owners of the racehorse La Vie Esprit, Mrs S Shaw, J A Sh.aw, R & J Kennedy Syn, K G Williams, Mrs B P Williams & P Grace have the spirit of winning today.
Trained by Brian Smith, this Bel Esprit filly won at her fourth start, the Mitty's Two-Years-Old Handicap with Joe Bowditch aboard, over 1500m at Eagle Farm today. She was sold at the Magic Millions sale for $24,000 and the way she won today, that money will be quickly recouped.
La Vie Esprit (AUS) [2006]Brian Smith
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Growing Market (USA)
Sold $22000 at Magic Millions 2007 National Select Weanling Sale by Emerald Thoroughbreds, Wiseman's Ferry NSW
Sold $24000, Magic Millions, QLD at Magic Millions 2008 National Select Yearling Sale by Wise

Siblings
TOPPEAR (AUS) [1999] - DANEHILL (USA)1w-1p-29s $6,300Race: 1100-3000m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-6s
PHARAOH'S QUEEN (AUS) [2001] - KING OF KINGS (IRE)2w-3p-39s $8,400Race: 806-1868m Won: 1100-1370m Wet: 0w-0p-7s
MARKET STRATEGY (AUS) [2003] - STRATEGIC (AUS)0w-0p-4sRace: 1000-1700m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
VAL DE XAAR (AUS) [2004] - XAAR (GB)0w-0p-8sRace: 1000-2030m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

Royal Saint 27/07/09

2009-07-28T15:06:00.006+10:00

The Royal Saint of Wellington
Steve Beattie told me he saw a good Bel Esprit filly win at Wellington yesterday. The horse was Royal Saint and it won by five lengths, ridden by Greg Ryan, trained by Phillip Ayoub and handled the slow track very well.
At the Inglis Sales in 2006 she was passed in for $6,000 with a reserve of $15,000 for Chatswood Lodge
Royal Saint had her first race at Ballarat on the 14/12/08, she started favourite and finished third on a heavy track. That day she was trained by Peter Moody.
Next two starts were in Queensland in January finishing a 6.8 length seventh and then started favourite again, finishing thirteen of fifteen at Ipswich and was trained by Kelly Schweida
She beat Unforgivable Woman (won next start) in a trial for her new trainer Phillip Ayoub on 28/06/09, so it's not hard to see why she started at $3.20 in yesterday's RADIO 2 DU MDN HCP over 1100m
Royal Saint (AUS) [2005]Phillip Ayoub
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Poniard (AUS)
Siblings
YOU'RE IN DANGER (AUS) [2002] - DANGEROUS (AUS)0w-1p-6s $1,000Race: 1200-1600m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-3s
PONTCHATEAU (AUS) [2003] - DIATRIBE (AUS)0w-1p-10s $1,700Race: 1100-1400m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
GOLD HELP (AUS) [2004] - DANGEROUS (AUS)4w-9p-29s $159,500Race: 1000-1400m Won: 1200-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
1st DAM
PONIARD, by Lake Coniston (Ire). 1 win at 1400m. 3d BTC Moet & Chandon Maiden H., Gunsynd Garden Betting Maiden H. This is her fourth foal.
2nd DAM
PANGA (IRE), by Thatching. 2 wins at 5, 6f. inc. Leopardstown Silver Flash S.
L. 4th Curragh 2 YO S. Gr 3. Half-sister to CAROL'S TREASURE,FLAME VIOLET, BURAIDA (dam of Desert Royalty). Dam of 4 namedfoals, 3 raced, all winners inc.– SYDNEY GEORGE. 3 wins at 1200, 1300m.PONIARD. See above.
3rd DAM
REALLY SHARP, by Sharpen Up. Unraced. Half-sister to Bydar. Dam of 10 named foals, 9 raced, 6 winners inc.–
CAROL'S TREASURE (c by Balidar). 7 wins at 5, 6f. inc. York Roses S. L,Haydock Field Marshal S. L. 2d Goodwood King George S. Gr 3, SandownTrafalgar House Sprint S. L. 3d Doncaster Flying Childers S. Gr 2,Goodwood Richmond S. Gr 2, Newmarket Palace House S. Gr 3,Goodwood King George S. Gr 3. 4th Newbury Mill Reef S. Gr 2.
FLAME VIOLET (f by Fairy King). 3 wins at 5, 6f. at 2 inc. Leopardstown
Rochestown S. L, Curragh 2 YO Maiden H. Producer.PANGA (IRE). See above. PERUKE. Won Curragh Maiden H. (6f.). 2d Curragh Scurry H.BURAIDA. 1 win at 6f. in Great Britain. Dam of 3 winners inc.–
Desert Royalty (f by Alhaarth). 4 wins inc. Epsom Workwithoptions.Com
H. 2d Haydock Pinnacle S. L. 3d York Galtres S. L. CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE. Placed at 2. Dam of– GOOD CHOCOLATE. 2 wins inc. Rome Premio Divino Amore L.
4th DAM
REAL PARTY, by Realm. 1 win at 5f. at 2. Three-quarter sister to CANTEEN,SAUCY FLIRT (dam of MADAM GAY, British). Half-sister to STAINCROSS. Dam of 13 named foals, 10 raced, 4 winners inc.–
Bydar (g by Balidar). 17 wins in Italy. 3d Milan Premio Delle Scuderie L. BLUE DANISH. 12 wins 1200 to 1400m. inc. Evry Prix de Mereville.
5th DAM PICNIC PARTY, by Honeyway. 2 wins at 6f. Half-sister to ARVAK,
Masquerade. Dam of 15 named foals, 14 raced, 11 winners inc.–STAINCROSS (GB). 4 wins at 5, 6f. inc. Ascot Hyperion S. Sire.CANTEEN. 2 wins at 5f. at 2 inc. Epsom Acorn S., Newmarket Littleport S. SAUCY FLIRT. 2 wins at 6f. 4th Ascot 1000 Guineas Trial S. Gr 3. Dam of–
MADAM GAY (f by Star Appeal). Won Chantilly Prix de Diane Gr 1 .

True Persuasion Beltrois 28/07/09

2009-07-28T07:24:00.001+10:00

BEL RINGS TWICE AT VALLEY
The Bel Esprit juggernaut rolled through Moonee Valley on Saturday (25 July) with the Champion Victorian Sire scoring a double with exciting 2YO True Persuasion and Beltrois.
The Mick Price trained True Persuasion was lining up against $1.55 hotpot Tan Tat Brav, but the Bel Esprit colt proved too strong in the run home to register a half length win.
Racing for the first time in January (finishing second), True Persuasion resumed in June with a fifth at Flemington before following up with a fast finishing third over 1200m at Sandown on 11 July.
True Persuasion was bred – and is owned – by Marion Smart, a staunch supporter of the Victorian thoroughbred industry, who sent her Brief Truce mare, True Peace, to Bel Esprit after earlier visits to Delago Brom and General Nediym.
A 3-time winner, True Peace is a granddaughter of Group winner Sister Shirley and hails from the family of Vanquished, Party Mood and Potential Star.
True Persuasion (AUS) [2006]Mick Price
Bel Esprit (AUS) - True Peace
Siblings
(AUS)TRUE GENERAL (AUS) [2003] - GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS)10w-11p-27s $64,200Race: 1000-1200m Won: 1000-1200m Wet: 1w-2p-4s
MR EISENHOWER (AUS) [2004] - GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS)4w-3p-14s $52,500Race: 1000-1300m Won: 1100-1208m Wet: 3w-2p-7s
TRUE TARGET (AUS) [2005] - DELAGO BROM (AUS)0w-0p-2s $500Race: 1000-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-1s
The victory of Beltrois was a thriller and breeder and trainer, Robbie Griffiths could be forgiven for reaching for the bottom drawer after his 3YOs gutsy performance.
Coming from well back off the pace, Beltrois swooped over the final stages to knock out Desert Sun gelding Sol Brillante right on the line.
This was the second win on the trot for Beltrois who, 10 days previously, had the distinction of registering win # 200 for his sire Bel Esprit (somewhat fittingly, Beltrois is part owned by Brian Donohoe, who raced Bel Esprit and meticulously compiles data for the Bel Esprit Winners’ Club).
Beltrois has now won three of eight starts with a further three placings and over $130,000 in stakes.
Out of the Noalcoholic mare Vaingt Trois, Beltrois is a half brother to four winners and hails from the immediate family of Golden Slipper/Doncaster winner Tontonan.
Beltrois (AUS) [2005]Robbie Griffiths
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Vaingt Trois (AUS)
Siblings
MORTGAGEE (AUS) [1998] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)0w-0p-1s $400Race: 1200-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
APRES MOI (AUS) [1999] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)2w-9p-19s $27,400Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1400-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
RUBY TROIS (AUS) [2001] - RUBITON (AUS)7w-9p-44s $131,600Race: 1170-1800m Won: 1400-1726m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
VAINGTLAGO (AUS) [2002] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)4w-8p-34s $56,900Race: 1170-2400m Won: 1300-2100m Wet: 0w-0p-1s
FRENCH KING (AUS) [2003] - DESERT KING (IRE)1w-2p-8s $16,400Race: 1400-2200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Bel Esprit's for Sale 28/07/09

2009-07-28T02:24:00.000+10:00

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8 horses found, showing results 1-8
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$2,500LAURA'S SPIRITBel Esprit Bay Mare 2004

LAURA'S SPIRIT
Category:
Tried horse
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Northern Pursuit (AUS) 1999
DOB:
16 September 2004
Location:
Brisbane QLD Australia
Nice looking Bay Bel Esprit Mare, approx 15.3 hh Good to handle. Ideal racing or breeding. Currently spelling.Click here for more info »
$40,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Filly 2008

BEL ESPRIT WEANLING FILLY
Category:
Weanling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Flint (AUS) 2003
DOB:
3 October 2008
Location:
Violet Town VIC Australia
Lovely leggy filly by Second Season GRP1 sire Bel Esprit. Bel Esprit is doing the job as he has already produced a Grp 1 winner and now the very exciting Black Caviar.Click here for more info »
$35,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Colt 2007

lovely colt
Category:
Yearling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Gavroche (AUS) 2002
DOB:
27 September 2007
Location:
Lovely Banks VIC Australia
broken in 100% xray sound Click here for more info »
$55,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Brown Colt 2008

Bel Esprit Weanling Colt From A Group Winning Mare
Category:
Weanling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Overclock (AUS) 2001
DOB:
7 November 2008
Location:
Research VIC Australia
Bel Esprit Weanling Colt, 2nd Live Foal from Overclock(2001)[Xaar/Watch], will nominate to Easter Yearling Sale or Goldcoast Magicmillions if not sell before the auction. Beautiful Action In The... Click here for more info »
Registered with Victorian Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme
$35,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Colt 2007

lovely colt
Category:
Ready to run 2/3 yo
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Gavroche (AUS) 2002
DOB:
28 September 2007
Location:
Lovely Banks VIC Australia
Broken in 100% xray sound Click here for more info »
$33,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Filly 2008

Bel Esprit Filly
Category:
Weanling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
My Lady Penelope (AUS) 2001
DOB:
6 August 2008
Location:
Catani VIC Australia
ANOTHER WIN ON THE BOARD FOR CLASSIC RUSH! THIS BEL ESPRIT FILLY IS A CRACKING TYPE. DOB 6/8/08 Nicely related being out of a full sister to Group winning mare Classy Dane, dam of Classic Rush debut... Click here for more info »
$12,000UNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Filly 2008

Bel Esprit Filly
Category:
Weanling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Duendee (AUS) 1993
DOB:
10 November 2008
Location:
Broadford VIC Australia
DUENDEE IS A LISTED & GR 3 WINNER & LISTED PLACED!!!!! SHE'S ALSO A 1/2 SISTER TO A WINNER & A PLACEGETTER! HEAPS OF BLACK TYPE IN THIS DAM LINE!!!INCLUDING HIGHPAK! Click here for more info »
Selling at AuctionUNNAMEDBel Esprit Bay Filly 2007
(As Agent)
Bel Esprit Filly
Category:
Yearling
Sire:
Bel Esprit (AUS) 1999
Dam:
Tamarillo (AUS) 1998
DOB:
9 October 2007
Location:
Kerrie VIC Australia
Click here for more info »
To be auctioned at Melbourne August Thoroughbred Sale, Lot 167, 13-14 Aug 2009

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Bel Mer, No Respite 28/07/09

2009-07-28T02:13:00.002+10:00

Bel Mer on trial for Manikato
By Mark Ryan
Melbourne
Monday 27 July 2009, 6:18pm
A bold showing from Bel Mer in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday could set her up for a start in next month's Group One Manikato Stakes.
The mare, who will be a five-year-old on the horses' birthday on Saturday, is one of trainer Mick Price's five individual winners of six Group One races this season, a tally bettered only by Gai Waterhouse with seven.
The daughter of Bel Esprit is a renowned fresh performer and won the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville first-up in March.
"She's come up fine. She's probably not one hundred per cent forward as I had her in the Group One but the Sangster was the main point of that preparation," Price said.
"I've just got her nice to run a good race, she races well fresh and she has had a trial in which she was very good.
"She's as good physically as she was last time in.
"We're running in the Bletchingly and if we get a guide that she's come up we might race her for another year.
"She's going to be a valuable broodmare but I'm pretty sure we can keep her going for another year.
"I'm very happy with her. She's as sound and as bright and sparky as she ever was and if she can nearly win this we'll freshen her up for the Manikato."
Also earmarked for the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25 are I Am Invincible, unbeaten filly Black Caviar and last year's Bletchingly winner Commanding Hope.
Bel Mer ran eleventh to Typhoon Zed in last year's weight-for-age Manikato but jumped from the outside barrier and Price said she was speared off the track before being beaten 4-1/2 lengths.
Apart from her Sangster victory, Bel Mer's best Group One performance was a 2-1/2 length second to Weekend Hussler in the 2007 Coolmore Stakes (1200m) at Flemington as a spring three-year-old.
"She's a restricted Group One performer, she's just off the top horses," Price said.
"She never has a day when she's quiet. She's full of nervous energy."
Group One winners Let Go Thommo, Mr Baritone and Orange County are also among the 13 nominations for the Bletchingly, as are Group One placegetters Stanzout and exciting Peter Morgan-trained speedster I Am Invincible, a first-up winner of the Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 18.

No Respite For Bargain Hunter
Former jockey Craig Carmody has been searching long and hard for bargains since making the transition to the training ranks and he believes he has found one in No Respite.
The two-year-old Bel Esprit gelding was a $45,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Sale and has been nominated for three races this week, including a maiden at Warwick Farm on Friday and the 1200 metre The Rosebud at Rosehill on Saturday.
Carmody, an 11-time Group One winning jockey who started training in late 2005, said he would most likely bypass The Rosebud in favour of a 1400 metre race on the same program.
"I think they might be a bit sharp for him in the Rosebud and he'll appreciate the extra distance in the Rating 75 race, that's what I'm leaning to at this stage," Carmody said.
No Respite is yet to win from four starts but has been placed three times including a long neck second to the promising Knot Out at Randwick on July 8 over 1150 metres.
The pair was so dominant that the third placed Flaming Rock was another five lengths away.
"He got held up slightly but he had his chance and the winner was too good on the day," Carmody said.
The Randwick trainer has five horses in work and is hoping No Respite can help lure prospective owners.
"Our budget has been pretty low since I've been training and I've been searching hard for bargains," Carmody said.
"But if you search long and hard enough you can find them and I think this horse has a future, hopefully he can put my name out there."
No Respite came from last on the turn at Randwick and made up plenty of ground in the heavy going and Carmody is hoping for plenty of early speed in Saturday's 1400 metre assignment.
"He's got a pattern of being a backmarker and has a great turn of foot, so that's the way we'll continue to ride him," Carmody said.
"He hasn't matured mentally yet and hasn't quite worked out how to start his race yet.
"Until he does he'll continue to be ridden cold."
As a jockey, Carmody was best known for his association with elite gallopers Intergaze and Angst.
Intergaze, who was trained by Carmody's former master Rod Craig, won eight Group One races, seven with Carmody aboard.
The Noel Mayfield-Smith trained Angst made a clean sweep of the four-race Princess series in 1993 before she tragically died after a throat operation.
The now retired Samantha Miss became the only filly to match the feat of Angst when she won all four legs of the 2008 Princess series.

Beltrois 25/07/09

2009-07-25T21:03:00.006+10:00

Two in a row for Beltrois
Griffiths Racing News
One of the softest victories recorded at Saturday’s Moonee Valley meeting was that by the up-and-comer Beltrois.The winner of two in a row at metropolitan level – having proven too strong at his previous start at a VRC meeting at Sale midweek – the son of Bel Esprit is well regarded by the stable.“He’s a progressive horse going somewhere,” Robbie told the press – “I think there is plenty of upside to him.”Sent out favourite, Beltrois was patiently ridden by Damien Oliver and he was part of a double for that rider and for Bel Esprit.Two particularly proud part owners are Brian & Peter Donohoe who also raced Bel Esprit. They cheered home Beltrois with James Lillie, Shiranee Griffiths, Yvonne Worthington, Brendan & Rebecca Jones, Don Healy, David McBride and Sam Hendry.A special congratulations to Robbie – his skills as a trainer of metropolitan gallopers are well recognised but not only does he prepare Beltrois, but he bred him – and all breeders know how hard it is to get a city class horse!Beltrois has now had eight starts and he is building an impressive record with three wins and three placings to his credit. And he has already amassed over $110,000 in stakes – with plenty more to come!
Jockeys, trainers neck and neck for premierships
Andrew Garvey
July 26, 2009
THE premiership race for leading jockey, trainer and apprentice will all go down to the wire, after Damien Oliver drew level with Craig Williams on 70 wins at Moonee Valley yesterday.
Oliver, who won the last two races on the card, said he was looking forward to the final day of the season at Betfair Park on Wednesday.
"It's going to be a great climax to a great season for both of us. I think we both have some good rides so it will be an interesting day," Oliver said after winning the last race on Commanding Hope.
Oliver said he was mindful that Commanding Hope ($3.70 equal favourite) has a short sharp sprint so held him up for as long as possible before sweeping down the outside to beat In The Shadows by a half-neck with Oliver admitting that he could hear the crowd urging him on.
"Usually you don't pick up a lot from the crowd but I certainly heard a few yelling out, 'Go Ollie' and it was a real buzz," he said.
Robbie Griffiths, trainer of Oliver's first winner Beltrois, thinks he has a horse with a future but at this stage is not sure at what level.
"He's a progressive horse going somewhere. I think there's plenty of upside to him but he's a dry tracker," Griffiths said.
Oliver sets scene for Sandown showdown
Saturday 25 July 2009
Champion jockey Damien Oliver rode the last two winners at Saturday's Moonee Valley meeting to join rival Craig Williams at the top of the Melbourne premiership.
In winning his 69th and 70th races of the season aboard Beltrois and Commanding Hope, Oliver has set the scene for Wednesday's season finale at Sandown.
Williams came into today's meeting with a two-win buffer and most expected him to extend it to three aboard hot favourite Tan Tat Brav in the second event.
But things didn't go to plan for Williams.
Tan Tat Brav was beaten and he left the meeting without a winner.
On the other hand Oliver was back to his brilliant best when notching his late double.
He rode his first winner aboard the Robbie Griffiths-trained Beltrois in the Alternate Railway Safeworking Handicap (1200m).
Just over half an hour later Oliver was back in the winner's stall after winning the Dominant Handicap (1200m) aboard quality sprinter Commanding Hope.

Field Sectional Times
Race Time
Split Times 800m...... 600m....... 400m..... 200m.... 1:12.80
1 5 Beltrois47.58[ 8] 35.98[ 8] 24.45[ 6]12.33[ 6]01:12.8
Runner Sectional Rates
1 5 Beltrois 11.60........11.52.........12.13.......12.33........1:12.80

True Persuasion 25/07/09

2009-07-25T20:49:00.006+10:00

Bel Esprit Rounds Off Season With Double
Posted by Michele Cullen Filed under Bel Esprit, Premium Upd ates, Racing and Breeding
Eliza Park Studs stallion, Bel Esprit, rounded his season with a double at Moonee Valley on Saturday (25 July) with the stallion notching up a double with exciting juvenile True Persuasion and his three-year-old, Beltrois. Bel Esprit’s double was kicked off by the Mick Price trained True Persuasion who was lining up against $1.55 hotpot Tan Tat Brav (Falbrav - Tamari by Nureyev), but the Bel Esprit colt had the better run and proved too strong to register his maiden win by a half-length.
Racing for the first time in January (finishing second), True Persuasion resumed in June with a fifth at Flemington before following up with a fast finishing third over 1200m at Sandown on 11 July.
True Persuasion was bred – and is owned – by Marion Smart, who sent her Brief Truce mare, True Peace, to Bel Esprit after earlier visits to Delago Brom and General Nediym. A three-time winner, True Peace is a grand daughter of group winner Sister Shirley and hails from the family of Vanquished, Party Mood and Potential Star.
The first two colts home are well above average as they ran 1:11-73 for the 1200m while the open sprinters could only manage 1:12-50 and the three-year-olds ran 1:12-80.
Five races later the the victory of Beltrois was a thriller giving his breeder and trainer, Robbie Griffiths, heaping praise on the youngster after the event. Coming from well back off the pace, Beltrois swooped over the final stages to knock out Desert Sun gelding Sol Brillante right on the line.
Griffiths, believes Beltrois is a progressive three-year-old and he believes he’s going somewhere and thinks that the gelding has plenty of upside, especially on dry ground. The win was the second victory on the trot for Beltrois who, 10 days previously, had the distinction of registering win number 200 for his sire Bel Esprit. Beltrois is part owned by Brian Donohoe, who raced Bel Esprit and meticulously compiles data for the Bel Esprit Winners’ Club.
Beltrois has now won three of eight starts with a further three placings and over $130,000 in stakes. Out of the Noalcoholic mare Vaingt Trois, Beltrois is a half brother to four winners and hails from the immediate family of Golden Slipper/Doncaster winner Tontonan.
Bel Esprit stands at Eliza Park Stud at a fee of $16,500 (inc gst).
Jockey persuades trainer to make a winning change
Brad WatersSaturday,
25 July 2009
Caulfield trainer Mick Price’s decision to add blinkers to two-year-old True Persuasion proved to be a masterstroke after the colt’s solid win at Moonee Valley.
True Persuasion chased Denman home at his last two starts and was most expected he’d find the $1.55 favourite Tan Tat Brav too strong in the Top Cat Electronics Handicap (1200m).
Aided by a lovely Craig Newitt ride, True Persuasion was able to collar the flying Tan Tat Brav before the home turn and grind away in the straight to win by a half-length.
Sincengarni raced just off the speed on the inside of True Persuasion and stuck on fairly in the run to the line to hold third spot, 3-1/2 lengths behind Tan Tat Brav.
Price gave credit for the key gear change to jockey Dale Smith who suggested the addition of the blinkers after riding the son of Bel Esprit at his last start at Sandown.
“He just gets to the front and stargazes a little bit,” Price said.
“I was a little bit suss when Craig (Newitt) throttled down on the corner and I think the horse lost a bit of concentration then.
“He fought back really well which was good because obviously the second horse (Tan Tat Brav) has plenty of ability.”
Price said he didn’t have “any great plans” for True Persuasion’s immediate future.
Craig Williams missed the chance to extend his two-win lead in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership when beaten aboard Tan Tat Brav after Oliver’s mount Finessed was scratched on race morning.
The placings and margins: True Persuasion (C Newitt) 56-1/2kg ($6) defeated Tan Tat Brav (C Williams) 58kg ($1.55 fav) by a half-length with 3-1/2 lengths back to Sincengarni (D Nikolic) 54.5kg ($12) in third place.
Winner’s breeding – True Persuasion is a two-year-old colt by Bel Esprit out of True Peace (Brief Truce (USA)).
The time and sectionals – The field covered the 1200 metres in 1.11.73 with the last 600 run in 35.95 seconds.
What they said – “He always travelled super in the run, I was confident on the turn,” said Craig Newitt, winning rider of True Persuasion.
Small Explosion At Moonee Valley - Only Punters Hurt
The Tan Tat Brav bubble burst this afternoon at Moonee Valley, although only punters taking the $1.55 odds on were hurt.
It was obvious the hot pot was under pressure on the turn with rider Craig Williams working hard to try and get an advantage over True Persuasion, ridden by Craig Newitt.
In spite of Williams' efforts True Persuasion ($5-$6) stuck his head in front of Tan Tat Brav at the top of the straight and maintained that lead all the way to the finishing post, winning eventually by a half length.
The pair cleared out from the rest of the field, beating Sincengarni ($8-$12) into third place by 3½ lengths.
Winning trainer Mick Price said:
"I was a little bit suss when Craig throttled down on the corner and I think my horse lost a bit of concentration then but he fought back really well so it was good."
"Obviously the second horse has got plenty of ability and has a little bit to learn"
Price credited the application of blinkers with having a positive influence on True Persuasion today after running third at Sandown at his last start.
"The blinkers were Dale Smith's advice after Sandown", he said.
"He drew 8 there and we thought he might be able to get in and he had no luck."
"He was deep and he just gets to the front and stargazes a bit.""I haven't got enormous plans for him but a combination of the blinkers and this time of year and hard and fit got the money", Price observed.
Asked if he had lofty ambitions for True Persuasion, Price quipped:
"Afraid not but I haven't told the owner yet."
True Persuasion's owner, Marion Smart was standing beside Price at the time and took the affront to her horse's ability in good spirit.
"We don't give away information", she whispered, suggesting that Price's real opinion was somewhat higher than he was letting on.
Price does not plan to do much more with True Persuasion this preparation.
"The good horses are just about to come back as three year olds for the stakes races but if we can pinch another Saturday race with him that will be great", he said.
Smart bred True Persuasion by sending her mare True Peace to Victorian sire Bel Esprit.
He is the fourth foal from her mare to race and her third winner.
True Persuasion is a half brother to Mr Eisenhower (4 wins) and True General (10 wins).
The family traces to third dam Sister Shirley (by Kaoru Star) the Group 3 winner of the SAJC Cheltenham Stakes.

Beltrois 15/07/09

2009-07-15T21:00:00.028+10:00

200 Wins for Bel Esprit Progeny

And we owned half of the winner

Today I went to Sale (Metro meeting changed because of the tracks) with a horse that we had been involved with from before he was born.

Don Healy (pictured with Damian Oliver after today's race), a good friend of mine rang me in July 2004 and asked if we would like to do a foal share with a serve of Bel Esprit into a mare owned by Robbie Griffiths.

A lunch was arranged after which we excitedly said yes, we had done a foal share the previous year with David Moody. Bel Esprit was mated with Blazing Aura which we raced under the name of Spirited Halo. Robbie was very professional telling us the history of the mare, her racing career and results so far of her breeding career, he believed that it was a good mix for the stallion and mare
The foal was born on the 15/10/2005, kept at Eliza Park for six weeks, then sent to Damian Gleeson's property at Benalla till he was broken in the following year (he had a short time at another property because of the lack of rain).

We remember the 1st time we saw him, a long legged gangly type with a long neck that seemed out of proportion to the rest of his body. He was shy, tried to hide behind his Mother so we couldn't get a good photo, however Damian got him to chase the Mother, Vaint Trois, and we knew we had a champion if only for that day.

Click photos to enlarge.
We had a few great days when we visited him dreaming on the way home of what could be. Our next serious look was when Robbie took us to see him while he was being pre-trained at Robbie's Father's property at Cranbourne just up the road from the racing stables. His sister, Kim (pictured left), brought him from the stable for us to get a photograph and the his father, John, jumped on him and took him around a small circular about six times for us to admire his action. John pointed out his finer attributes and said he had a very long overstep, would grow to be seventeen hands and he had a high opinion of him (so did we with our very limited knowledge)

He also showed us a couple of other Bel Esprits in which he was expecting big things from.

He won a private trial after he missed the start by seven lengths, Robbie was excited, he rang us and before you knew we had done another foal share to one of Vaingt Trois's offsprings, Ruby Trois who won seven races in her career.

This Bel Esprit gelding had his 1st start as a 3YO at Mornington last Boxing Day, led by four lengths half way up the straight only to hit the wall and lost by a head, he was white with a lather of sweat when he returned to the winning enclosure, took time to recover and did the same when he went to Stoney Creek a couple of weeks later,a mile in front half way up the straight, this time he won if only by a short half head, in a lather of sweat, at $1.50 the win. It took him an hour to recover.Questions were asked about whether he was breathing during the race. Back to the drawing board for the trainer.

Beltrois went for a spell and Robbie and Ivan Culliver agreed that he should be raced more quietly at the rear of the field on his return to the track, only trouble was he drew barrier 10, 10, and 14 at his starts this preparation for a 4th at Bendigo, 4th and a 3rd at Sandown. Now he was relaxed, loved to go to the races, no lather of sweat and learning quickly what racing was all about.

Last start was at Flemington in a $70,000 3YO race, back from 1200m to 1100m, again he drew wide, raced with no cover and was in front 10m from the line only to be grabbed and beat by a short half head by Bertonic who had cover behind Beltrois into the headwind.

Today he drew a barrier in the $30,000 Danzero At Arrowfield Handicap, Super Vobis for 3YO's over 1210m, had Damian Oliver aboard, sat in behind the front runners, moved to the outside fence where the best going was, upon entering the straight and won by 3/4 of a length with only a cut of the whip to keep his mind about the job. This win put Damian Oliver back in front of Craig Williams in the race for the Jockey's Championship.

Robbie rang straight after the race to congratulate us and say that he would be entered for another Super Vovis 3YO race at Moonee Valley on Saturday week (Bugger, I'm going to miss it)

My Son, Peter, Daughter Rebecca, her husband Brendan and I (we have 50% and are square with our investment) are over the moon about the win. Thanks Robbie, everything you said was true, and we look forward to more wins. I thought the occasion was good enough to give Beltrois a kiss.

Click line below to watch race.

http://horseracing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR374441117960463561

Special thanks to R&R, Rose and Reed who looked after the horse on the day.

This was Robbie's sixth Bel Esprit win, four winners, with more to come
Beltrois (AUS) [2005]Robbie Griffiths

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Vaingt Trois (AUS)

Siblings

MORTGAGEE (AUS) [1998] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)0w-0p-1s $400Race: 1200-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

APRES MOI (AUS) [1999] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)2w-9p-19s $27,400Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1400-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

RUBY TROIS (AUS) [2001] - RUBITON (AUS)7w-9p-44s $131,600Race: 1170-1800m Won: 1400-1726m Wet: 0w-0p-2s

VAINGTLAGO (AUS) [2002] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)4w-8p-34s $56,900Race: 1170-2400m Won: 1300-2100m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

FRENCH KING (AUS) [2003] - DESERT KING (IRE)1w-2p-8s $16,400Race: 1400-2200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

1st Dam

VAINGT TROIS, by Noalcoholic (Fr). Winner at 1100m. Dam of 6 named foals, all raced, 5 winners

2nd Dam

FORETELL, by Comeram (Fr). Unraced. Dam of 5 named foals, all raced, 3
winners, inc:- Premier Poet. 4 wins at 1100, 1200m. Poetic Fortune. Winner at 1300m.
3rd Dam
Foreshow, by Showdown (GB). 3 wins 1400 to 2400m, AJC Vincent O'Brien H., Balgowlah S., 3d NSW Tatt's RC Tattersall's P., L. Sister to TONTONAN, PRODROMUS, Foreclosure (dam of STARCLOSURE), Timetheus, Near Show. Dam of 9 foals, 6 to race, 4 winners, inc:-
Richlen Lad. 5 wins at 1200, 1400m. Moranic's Lament - Purple Velvet (Mal.). 5 wins 1200 to 1600m in Aust and Malaysia. Class 1 winner in Malaysia. Mystic Mill. Started once. Dam of 2 winners- Miss Diaz. 5 wins 1400 to 2430m, $133,950, MRC Bronzetti H., Ilumquh H.
4th Dam
FOREGO, by Orgoglio (GB). 3 wins–1 at 2–5½f to 7f, VATC St Clair H., 2d VRC Essendon H., VATC Teppo S., 3d VRC 2YO H., 4th VATC Sandown Guineas. Half-sister to SAVOY. Dam of 11 foals, all raced, 9 winners, inc:
TONTONAN (c Showdown) Head of The 1973-74 Aust. 3YO & 1972-73 Aust. 2YO (joint) Free Hs. 12 wins–4 at 2–1100 to 1600m, $241,900, STC Golden Slipper S., AJC Sires' Produce S., Doncaster H.
PRODROMUS (c Showdown) 4 wins–3 at 2–1006 to 1408m, VRC Maribyrnong Trial S., VATC Glenferrie H., Glenhuntly H.

Griffiths hoping Oliver fires at Sale
By Robert Windmill
17:10 AEST Tue Jul 14 2009
Damien Oliver will ride two horses at Wednesday's Melbourne Racing Club meeting.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is hoping Damien Oliver's hunger for an eighth Melbourne jockeys' title will translate into success for his stable at Sale.
Oliver will ride highly fancied Beltrois in the Danzero at Arrowfield Handicap (1210m) and stablemate Midnight Blues in the in the Cyril Beechey Handicap (1410m) at Wednesday's Melbourne Racing Club meeting.
Griffiths, who also has the Dean Holland mount Scion running in the Yangtze Handicap, said Beltrois was his best chance on the program despite drawing wide in barrier 11.
"I'm optimistic the barrier won't be too much of a negative," Griffiths said.
"He has been drawing ordinary barriers all preparation and it has cost him, but on a winter track they might get to the centre of the track anyway at Sale and get out wider to fresh lanes in the straight."
A Stony Creek winner, Beltrois hasn't finished further back than fourth in his six starts and possibly should have won his last two runs when he flew home to finish on the losing end of a three-way photo at Sandown and half head second to Bertronic at Flemington on July 4.
"He (Beltrois) probably got to them a little bit soon at Flemington but that was the way the race panned out and he got beaten a fraction by what looks like is a pretty good horse," Griffiths said.
"He came out of that run in good order and I think he could make amends this time.

Bel breaks through for first city win
A well deserved victory at metropolitan level for Beltrois at the VRC meeting at Sale on Wednesday

– the lightly raced son of Bel Esprit finding plenty to take out the Danzero at Arrowfield Handicap.

Having only his seventh start, the talented bay had only just missed out at Flemington at his previous start and he has been an exceptionally honest racehorse – not once out of the first four.Also a Stony Creek winner back in January, Beltrois was ridden on the pace during his debut campaign – but not finishing off his races as well as hoped.

This time in he has been taught to settle – a tongue tie added to his gear and his riders instructed to let him find his feet early.That style of riding has really suited Beltrois, jockey Damien Oliver agreeing that it sees him get home better – “he finished too strongly for them today,” he said.

Beltrois is raced by Brian & Peter Donohoe (who raced Beltrois’ sire Bel Esprit), James Lillie (one of the stable’s biggest supporters), Shiranee Griffiths (Robbie’s wife), Yvonne Worthington, Brendan & Rebecca Jones, Don Healy, David McBride and Sam Hendry.

Bred by Robbie, Beltrois is out of the lightly raced Noalcoholic mare Vaingt Trois who was well regarded by the stable – bolting in at debut but racing only one more time.At stud Vaingt Trois has done a great job for us – Apres Moi successful at Benalla and Cranbourne, Ruby Trois a triple city winner, Vaingtlago another metropolitan winner and the lightly raced French King also saluting. Not served last year, she has youngsters coming through by Dash For Cash, Not A Single Doubt and Lago Delight.

The Phoenician 14/07/09

2009-07-14T14:56:00.007+10:00

Finally, a Protest is Won

Today was the third time a Bel Esprit had been in a protest. Tollesprit lost the protest at Ballarat in April after being first over the line, then, Bellatheball lost the protest at Bendigo in June being first to the post.

Today, there was a different story, the jockey of The Phoenician, Ben Melham, who cut to the inside fence on the turn, decided that the outside fence was the best place to be and headed sharply in that direction only to find that News Just In had got there first, so Ben, after a little bump straightened The Phoenician up and went on to win by a long head.

Nick Hall, rider of News Just In, protested to no avail and the Bel Esprit gelding kept the race.

I remember the night at the Valley last summer when Craig Williams won the protest because his horse was terrorised for the same thing. Different stewards, different result, that's racing.

Watch this race, click line below

http://horseracing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR478557514186823844

Kevin Sheedy is the breeder and he syndicated The Phoenician who is a full brother to Van Der Star, winner last Friday at Bairnsdale, two wins in five days, well done.

The Phoenician (AUS) [2005]Peter Gelagotis

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Georgia (AUS)

Siblings

THE TAUREAN (AUS) [2001] - SCENIC (IRE)3w-6p-49s $34,000Race: 1400-5500m Won: 2000-3127m Wet: 2w-3p-15s

KEEP IT BRIEF (AUS) [2002] - BRIEF TRUCE (USA)2w-7p-26s $28,900Race: 1000-1615m Won: 1200-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

VAN DER STAR (AUS) [2004] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS)0w-1p-10s $4,500Race: 1000-1500m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-3s

PEACH TREE (AUS) [2006] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS)0w-0p-1s $200Race: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s

Bel Esprit & Kevin Sheedy 12/07/09

2009-07-12T10:28:00.002+10:00

Hangang Ruby 11/07/09

2009-07-11T07:32:00.004+10:00

Hangang Goes Bang Again
Brian,
Just to let you know Hangang Ruby had his second outing at Busan today and just as before led from gate to wire to win by four lengths ahead of odds-on favourite Gamun Gongju.
He was sent off second favourite for the five furlong race and was once again ridden by Jung Si Won.
Here's the full result:Race 3: D4 1000M – 1. Hangang Ruby (Jung, SW) 3.0, 1.3; 2. Gamun Gongju (Chae, GJ) 1.1; 3. Wind Force (Kim, TK) 4.5Distances: 4 lengths/2.5 lengths – 9 ran
RegardsAlastair
email from Horse Racing in Korea
Click below to watch race
http://www.youtube.com/user/fallight?gl=GB&hl=en-GB

Van Der Star 10/07/09

2009-07-10T14:00:00.006+10:00

A Star at Bairnsdale

The owners of Van Der Star, M H & Mrs R Reardon, M P Howell, I S Petty, S I Jenkins, M J Mather, J Boulter, N Theodossi, A De Luca & K J Sheedy finally got the result they wanted when their Bel Esprit mare won the Vic's East Climate Mdn Plate at Bairnsdale over 1200m today

This was Van Der Star's eleventh start and Peter Gelagotis is the third trainer after the mare was previously at Flemington with Danny O'Brien and Wodonga with John Ledger. She has also had eight jockeys, today's winning jockey was Ben Melham

Click line below to watch race

http://horseracing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR169643772167420558

Van Der Star (AUS) [2004]Peter Gelagotis

Bel Esprit (AUS) - Georgia (AUS)

Kevin Sheedy is the breeder of Van Der StarSold $55000, Danny O'Brien Racing, VIC at Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale 2006 by Ultra Thoroughbreds, Melbourne

Siblings
THE TAUREAN (AUS) [2001] - SCENIC (IRE)3w-6p-49s $34,000Race: 1400-5500m Won: 2000-3127m Wet: 2w-3p-15s

KEEP IT BRIEF (AUS) [2002] - BRIEF TRUCE (USA)2w-7p-26s $28,900Race: 1000-1615m Won: 1200-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-1s

THE PHOENICIAN (AUS) [2005] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS)0w-1p-7s $3,900Race: 1000-1510m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-2sPEACH TREE (AUS) [2006] - BEL ESPRIT (AUS)0w-0p-1s $200Race: 1000-1000m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
Bel Esprit Owners Leaderboard (2 horse minimum)

Kevin Sheedy......................8

Diplomatic Strike2,Bel Shoes4, Queen Rene1, Van Der Star1
Michael Duffy......................7
Diplomatic Strike2, Beau Esprit5
Simon Hearnden-Hunter...7
Snip Esprit6, Babieca Noire1
Steve Harrington................6
Bel Shoes4, Tollesprit2
Peter & Brian Donohoe......6
Diplomatic Strike2, Spirited Halo3, Beltrois1,

I have found a couple of owners who haven't been mentioned before

Simon Hearnden-Hunter who is the Breeder of Snip Esprit and Babieca Noire and Steve Harrington whose Father, Peter, and Uncle, Jack came down from Colac to play football with Essendon.

I was lucky enough to play with them, Jack (a real tough player) won the Best 1st year player in 1953, best clubman in 1954 and 1955 with the Dons and his career was cut short when he had an serious eye injury

Brent Grayling 8/07/09

2009-07-08T17:10:00.002+10:00

P.A. to the Stars:
Stallion handlers tell all
The role of a stallion handler is a vital but under-appreciated part of the thoroughbred
industry. SARAH PEATLING talks to breeding’s unsung heroes and finds horsemen
who are committed to their duty.
You might say you would like to
come back in the next life as a
successful stallion at stud and
why wouldn’t you? Consider this:
You’d have your own home, cleaned
and catered for at all times; you’d
have your own yard to gallop and fool
around in; you’d get to parade and
show off your finest assets to those
people who appreciate you; and, best
of all, you’d have people employed from
matchmaker.com to go out and find you
a suitable companion in the “romance
stakes”, to the point where you could
entertain up to two, three, or even four
different ladies per day (depending on
your stamina capabilities). If you were super
successful at your job and liked to travel,
you’d get to do all of this and more in two
hemispheres each year.
But with all of this activity, of course, you
would need a personal assistant. Basically,
he or she would be there to keep you
happy, amused, and well-groomed, to
work out your personality traits, your likes
and dislikes and to make sure you “get it
on” safely with the opposite sex. He or she
would also be there to keep you in line if
you get too carried away with yourself and
muck up.
That is the role of the stallion handler.
So, what does it take to effectively handle
a 700-kilogram stallion with a body full
of testosterone? The answer can be
summarised in four words: patience,
routine, wit and fairness.
Eliza Park Stud’s Stallion Manager Brent
Grayling shares some interesting thoughts
about his experience in dealing with these
magnificent entires.
“Any person that’s uptight won’t do any
good with stallions because the animal can
feel it. You’ve got to be a very relaxed sort
of person. Being genuine with them and
treating them fairly is also very important.
“For example, if they misbehave you’ve got
to discipline them hard – a sharp jab with
a chain will let them know that they’ve
mucked up. But for the rest of the time,
without being over affectionate, you’ve got
to be kind to them.”
Echoing the the boys from Swettenham,
Grayling believes a good routine is
imperative to a stallion’s mood. “They go
out to their paddock at the same time
every day. They eat at the same time. When
you muck around with their routine, that’s
when they start to get a bit cranky.”
But when it comes to a freshman stallion
covering a mare for the first time - every
horse is different, as Grayling explains.
“They don’t have the benefits of books and
television to know what to do, although
it’s pretty natural for most of them. But
some are a bit slow. It’s Important to have
plenty of people around when a stallion
is covering a mare for the first time. We’ve
had instances where we’ve literally had to
put the stallion into the mare because he
just didn’t know what to do or where to
put it.”
Then there are stallions like Shinzig, who
acted like he’d served 100 mares; he knew