Bel Esprit Top Vic.Sire 1/8/2008

ELIZA SCORES PREMIERSHIP QUINELLA
Eliza Park, understandably, was ecstatic with Bel Esprit’s ‘performance’ during the past 12 months, sweeping all before him by capturing the Champion Victorian Sires’ premiership with only two crops of racing age.

The son of Royal Academy was also Champion Victorian 2YO Sire by winners, Champion Victorian Second Season Sire by earnings and co-Champion Victorian Second Season Sire by winners.

We’re checking on stats to ascertain the last Victorian sire to achieve the feat with only two crops racing, but we’ve also got to hit the record books to find the last stud to grab a quinella, given that Desert Sun finished second on the table.

“We’re over the moon,” enthused Eliza’s General Manager, Shane McGrath.
“Expectations were always high for Bel Esprit seeing as he won the Blue Diamond and was named Champion 3YO. “That said, there’s a huge gulf between racetrack performance and breeding barn excellence, so to see Bel Esprit going so well so early is a huge thrill.

“I really think you’ll see the best of them this spring with his older horses and the newly minted 3YOs.

“And while it appears there are nothing but blue skies ahead for Bel Esprit, Eliza Park is absolutely wrapped to grab the Victorian premiership quinella with Desert Sun.

“What a grand horse. He’ll always be remembered as the sire of Sunline – and it’s not a bad horse to have on your resume – but he just keeps coming up with the winners. He has well over 400 winners and he’s not just living on past glory: during the last season he flew into the spotlight with Adelaide Cup-G2 winner Lacey Underall and 2YO stakeswinner Gold in Dubai.

“He’s such a versatile horse too and his appeal is world-wide with a consistent run of winners in Europe, New Zealand, South East Asia and throughout Australia – all distances, all ages.

“What’s particularly pleasing is that Desert Sun is Eliza Park’s foundation sire and there’s plenty of life left in him yet.”