Queen Rene, Esprit de Bullet 26/12/08

BEL BOXES ON WITH DOUBLE
Those who ‘tuned in’ to the Bel Esprit blog yesterday morning might well have tipped into Queen Rene at Wodonga although, sadly, I wasn’t one!
Nor did yours truly have the foresight to hop on Esprit de Bullet who was having his first start at Cheltenham for Mark Lewis
Interestingly, it was the second time in a month that Bel Esprit has produced an Adelaide-Wodonga double within 24 hours.
But back to Queen Rene. We should have known! Brian Donohoe, who pens the Bel Esprit blog, is great mates with Kevin Sheedy, whose family races Queen Rene.
And Queen Rene, closely related to 2YO Group winners De France and Whistler, won with a leg in the air, taking out her 1200m assignment by over three panels.
There was a lot to like about Esprit de Bullet’s victory at Cheltenham too.
Bred and part-owned by Alastair and Patricia McFarlane, who also own the smart Bel Esprit mare Esprit de Roses, Esprit de Bullet came from last in a flying finish to grab the major prize.
Alastair and Patricia could be forgiven for buying shares in the pharmaceutical firm that distributes Valium after the near heart attacks that the ‘Esprit’ pair have given them over the past couple of weeks.
Esprit de Roses has won and been beaten by a short half head at her two previous runs in town, while Esprit de Bullet’s last gasp victory would have had the ticker pumping as well. Still, we’re tipping that if you asked them, they wouldn’t miss it for quids.