Bel Esprit Sales 16/2/06

Bel Esprit Makes His Mark
Thursday 16.02.2006
The first crop progeny of Bel Esprit continue to find some 'very good homes' following another successful round of yearling sales staged in Sydney. The first crop progeny of Bel Esprit continue to find some 'very good homes' following another successful round of yearling sales staged in Sydney. The 2006 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale witnessed progeny of Eliza Park's dual Group 1 winning son of Royal Academy fetch up to $160,000 in the Newmarket sales ring and realise an average of $100,000 from three lots sold. Successful Rosehill-based trainer Lee Curtis purchased the most expensive Bel Esprit yearling sold in Sydney, a bay colt from Floribunda (by Brief Truce*) offered by Huntworth Stud, NSW. Following his successful $160,000 bid, Curtis was quoted as saying: "I think he is outstanding. He looks an early-coming type and is just a beautiful looking colt." The Inglis Classic Yearling Sale also witnessed two other yearlings by Bel Esprit fetch a collective $140,000. A colt from Moralee (by Desert Sun) was sold to Slade Bloodstock for $80,000, and a filly from Sumara (by Kaapstad) knocked down to United Syndications of Victoria for $60,000. Rob Slade of Slade Bloodstock explained that his purchase was made following the strong recommendation of Lee Freedman who rated the son of Bel Esprit one of the very best prospects in the sale. The master trainer was very keen to have the youngster in his Markdel Stables for the 2006/07 racing season and was the driving force behind the purchase. The Bel Esprit filly from Sumara is also expected to enter into a top-flight Victorian stable with Mick Price the preferred trainer of United Syndications. Following the completion of both the Magic Millions Gold Coast and Inglis Classic yearling sales, a very healthy number of Bel Esprit’s first-crop progeny have already been snapped-up by several of Australia’s leading trainers or syndicates immediately associated their stables. These include Lee Freedman, Mick Price, John Symons, Clinton McDonald, Lee Curtis and Rick Worthington who will all have at least one Bel Esprit 2-year-old in their charge in season 2006/07.