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acing.bigpond.com/asx/windowsmedia.aspx?TagID=AR184235347321318269Bel Esprit youngster Tollesprit is shaping as the horse to break Shane Fliedner's unlucky run in the Caulfield Guineas next season.
The two-year-old confirmed for the Bendigo trainer that he was worth a crack at Group One class when he made it two wins from three starts by taking out Saturday's Green Fields Hcp (1420m) at Flemington.
"The main reason I came here today, without getting carried away, was to get a gauge and make him a bit more seasoned for the spring," Fliedner said.
"I think he could be up to the (Caulfield) Guineas."
Fliedner has had two Caulfield Guineas runners but luck deserted him on both occasions.
He still believes, like many others, that Classiconi who finished fifth to Econsul in 2004 should have won while Little Dozer had a chequered run when he finished 13th in Show A Heart's Guineas in 2000.
"Hopefully it will be third time lucky," Fliedner said.
"I said three months ago that I thought he (Tollesprit) was better than Classiconi.
"He is just a lovely horse and untapped.
"We have never put any pressure on him at all because we have never had one good enough to go with him."
Fliedner said Tollesprit should be unbeaten after Carrara beat him in a photo-finish at Seymour on his debut.
Last start he beat Norwegian by two lengths at Ballarat.
Tollesprit has already doubled his $27,000 purchase price in prizemoney and Fliedner is now in the position to pick and choose his races in the spring.
"I am sure he will be better next time in," he said.
This article also appeared in American Chronicle - Beverly Hills,CA,USA
New Feature Contender For Bel Esprit
Saturday, 9 May 2009: Fresh off outstanding filly Black Caviar announcing herself a star of the future seven days back, Bel Esprit had another horse join his list of spring carnival contenders when Tollesprit strolled home at Flemington today.
The Shane Fliedner trained two-year-old gelding 'won' on debut at Seymour, but lost the race on protest.He has atoned in two subsequent starts, with an easy win at Ballarat and again at Flemington today when coming from last in a slowly run race over the 1400m.
Tollesprit is from the Alzao mare Tolleranza and looks a bargain buy now after costing just $26,000 from the Eliza Park draft at last year's Adelaide Magic Millions. Tolleranza is also the dam of former handy Melbourne performer Belle Ball, a five times winner up to Listed level. Fliedner flagged spring plans for Tollesprit immediately following the win.To taste spring feature success, he will have to break the mould in terms of what his sire has achieved to date.
Bel Esprit has had the five stakes winners to date – and all of them have been of the fairer sex, the latest being Black Caviar in last week's Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes.Winner of the Blue Diamond and Doomben 10,000 at Group 1 level, Bel Esprit is making an excellent fist of his new life as a sire and with his oldest progeny now four, he enjoyed his first Group 1 success as a sire when Bel Mer took out this year's Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
BEL TOLLS FOR THEE
Personal opinion to be sure, but one of Bel Esprit’s finest performances – maybe his best – was the second to Helenus in the 2002 Caulfield Guineas-G1 (1600m).
Bel Esprit ran into one brick wall after another down the Caulfield straight, but once clear, flew home to finish just over a panel shy of the winner. And this from a horse considered to be an out and out sprinter.
Well, Bel Esprit might have a son that goes one better. Shane Fliedner’s Tollesprit is very promising to say the least and his three runs to date have produced a head second at Seymour (14 April), a win at Ballarat (1 May) and an emphatic victory over 1420m at Flemington (9 May).
Shane rates the 2YO highly and is qualified to share his opinion on Tollesprit’s Guineas chances, particularly as his multiple stakeswinner Classiconi ran a resounding fifth in Econsul’s Guineas.
Following the Flemington victory, Shane told Virtual Form Guide’s Greg Irvine: “The main reason I came here today was to get a bit of a gauge and make him a little more seasoned for the spring.
“We wanted to get some stakes money in his box and it will help him get a run when I want to.
“We’ll put him out and get him heading toward the (Caulfield) Guineas in the Spring.
“He’s shown me for a fair while that he’s pretty good. I’m sure he will be a lot better next time in.
“Classiconi ran fifth in the Guineas and I thought he was very unlucky. Little Dozer was a bit the same.
“I think I’ll be third time lucky, hopefully. I said three months ago that I thought he (Tollesprit) was better than Classiconi.
“He’s just a lovely horse and he’s untapped. We haven’t put any pressure on him at all yet.
“I haven’t had one good enough to go with him.”
Bred by Eliza Park’s CEO, Cameron Croucher, Tollesprit is out of the Alzao mare Tolleranza, who has also produced Flemington stakeswinner Belle Ball (dam of juvenile stakesplacegetter Detroit Tiger).
Shane took a shine to Tollesprit at last year’s Adelaide Magic Millions, eventually having the colt knocked down to the astute Bendigo trainer for $27,000.
“I bought the horse of type. Shane McGrath (former Eliza Park manager) chased me and said he had a nice horse there and to come and have a look.
“I did and I liked him that much I had to buy him.”
A great decision given that the 2YO has now returned $55,325 with – seemingly – much more to come.
Bel Esprit is continuing with his incredible ‘run’ and his 2009 fee of $16,500 is proving greater value with each passing days.
Since Tollesprit’s victory at Flemington, Bel Esprit has produced 16 runners, resulting in a double at Tatura (Belolly and Superior Shadow), a winner in NSW (Esprit Soleil), two placings at Sandown and a third at Flemington (Bon Marche). In fact, 10 have gone home with cheques while, on Saturday alone, Bel Esprit had five runners for two winners, two seconds and a third.
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