Winners 16/06/09

BEL ESPRIT - A WINNER A DAY KEEPS ...
They reckon an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a winner a day will also help you keep your bank manager at arm’s length.
Since last Friday (12 June), Bel Esprit has produced a winner at Albury in Targa Lady; a winner at Rosehill on Saturday in the shape of Apparitions (along with a couple of runnerup prizes at Morphettville for Bon Marche and Court Bell); a winner at Wellington on Sunday with Spirits in the Sky and; yesterday, a victory to the Barb Joseph trained Vigneron at Queanbeyan.
Related to Blue Diamond-G1 winner Lady Jakeo and out of the Chief’s Crown mare, Splash of Love, Targa Lady is trained by tip top country mentor, John Ledger on behalf of owner breeder Ken Eagle.
Only lightly raced but showing plenty of promise, this was a breakthrough win for Targa Lady who scored comfortably over the 1175m at Albury.
As for Apparitions, she is clearly above average, winning her third race in town for Clarry Conners, her second on the trot, and first at Rosehill.
Conners told Racenet that he’ll take the 3YO to Caloundra in a quest for some black type in the Sunshine Coast Guineas over 1600m.
“She deserves a chance at getting some black type,” Conners said. “She’s racing so well, handles all surfaces and her ‘get back and get home’ style of racing will be suited in Queensland where they love to get along.
“She should be undefeated. She had hard luck tales to tell at both of her Kembla defeats.
“Apparitions is an improving filly and a Queensland spell after the Sunshine Coast Guineas will do her the world of good. She is going to furnish into a lovely race mare.”
Not only is Spirits in the Sky a promising 3YO, he also gets an award for a terrific name – so full marks to trainer Steve Beattie who also owns the Bel Esprit speedster with his wife, Simone.
Spirits in the Sky is out of Cosmic Dust and most of the rellies have ‘celestial’ monikers.
As to his breeding and background, the following was posted on the Bel Esprit Winners Club website, which is updated religiously by Bel Esprit part-owner and Spirits in the Sky breeder Brian Donohoe. Click here – it’s always a good read.
Brian also reports that the victory of Vigneron (French for Winemaker) at Queanbeyan was an impressive ‘turn around’ for the Bombala bay.
“Vigneron looked a bit tired at the end of his last start at Canberra on 29 May, but Barb certainly freshened him up for today. No Bel Esprit has won more than five races yet, in the short time they have been racing … so maybe on today’s form this fella might.”
Bred by KP Thoroughbreds and out of the Woodman mare, Lenswood, Vigneron has now won four and is closely related to Caulfield Stakes-G1 winner Northern Drake.