Apparitions 23/04/09

Cheap Filly Adds to Bel's Tally
Story By Nathan Exelby
Wednesday, 22 April 2009: Fresh from unleashing Black Caviar as perhaps his most exciting prospect yet, Bel Esprit added a new winner via the Clarry Conners trained Apparitions on a day where his service fee received a 50% reduction.
From the Flying Spur mare Stormy Petrel, who in turn is a half-sister to the Black Opal stakes (G3) winner Coral Salute, Apparitions cost just $16,000 from the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. The filly was having her first start since midway through last year - where she was bumping into classy types like Olonana and Maybe I – and proved too classy to score first up at Canterbury over 1200m.
Bel Esprit's reputation continues to grow.The Eliza Park based stallion had his first Group 1 winner this season when Bel Mer landed the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes last month. His fillies have been his best performed runners to date, with each of his four stakes winners being of the fairer sex – with Bel Mer joined by Vivacious Spirit, Gabbidon and Belcentra.
That trend may well continue when Black Caviar tackles black type company at her next start.Sold by Swettenham Stud for $210,000 Melbourne Premier Yearling – making her the second highest priced yearling by the Royal Academy sire sold last year – the Peter Moody trained filly made a stunning debut at Flemington on Saturday, when strolling away to win by five lengths over the handy Kwassa Kwassa.
The winning margin was enhanced by the sizzling time of 56.63 seconds, which bettered the time recorded by the slick Secret Flyer on the same afternoon. Only a handful of horses have run quicker time down the Flemington straight 1000m in the past few seasons.
Black Caviar is from the Desert Sun mare Helsinge, who in turn is a half-sister to G1 winner Magnus and G2 winner Wilander, with all being from the top Snippets mare Scandinavia, a G2 winning multiple G1 placed performer herself. Moody said Black Caviar is likely to have her next start in Listed company over 1200m at Caulfield.
Despite the good form being shown by Bel Esprit – who was Australia's busiest stallion in 2007 and is in the top 20 stallions by winners this season – Eliza Park today announced his service fee would be cut by 50% to $16,500. Eliza Park CEO Cameron Croucher said the fee reduction, which applies to all of Eliza Park's stallions, was simply a reflection on the current economic climate, with the pricing structure designed to support breeders and maintain their ongoing participation in the industry.Other notable Eliza Park stallions include God's Own (down to $33,000 from $38,500) and Magnus (down to $22,000 from $27,500).