200 Wins for Bel Esprit Progeny
And we owned half of the winner
. Today I went to Sale (Metro meeting changed becau
se of the tracks) with a horse that we had been involved with from before he was born.
se of the tracks) with a horse that we had been involved with from before he was born.Don Healy (pictured with Damian Oliver after today's race), a good friend of mine rang me in July 2004 and asked if we would like to do a foal share with a serve of Bel Esprit into a mare owned by Robbie Griffiths.
A lunch was arranged after which we excitedly said yes, we had done a foal share the previous year with David Moody. Bel Esprit was mated with Blazing Aura which we raced under the name of Spirited Halo. Robbie was very professional telling us the history of the mare, her racing career and results so far of her breeding career, he believed that it was a good mix for the stallion and mare
The foal was born on the 15/10/2005, kept at Eliza Park for six weeks, then sent to Damian Gleeson's property at Benalla till he was broken in the following year (he had a sh.JPG)
ort time at another property because of the lack of rain). 
The foal was born on the 15/10/2005, kept at Eliza Park for six weeks, then sent to Damian Gleeson's property at Benalla till he was broken in the following year (he had a sh
.JPG)
ort time at another property because of the lack of rain). 
We remember the 1st time we saw him, a long legged gangly type with a long neck that seemed out of proportion to the rest of his body. He was shy, tried to hide behind his Mother so we couldn't get a good photo, however Damian got him to chase the Mother, Vaint Trois, and we knew we had a champion if only for that day.
Click ph
otos to enlarge.
We had a few great days when we visited him dreaming on the way home of what could be. Our next serious look was when Robbie took us to see him while he was being pre-trained at Robbie's Father's property at Cranbourne just up the road from the racing stables. His sister, Kim (pictured left), brought him from the stable for us to get a photograph and the his father, John, jumped on him and took him around a small circular about six times for us to admire his action. John pointed out his finer attributes and said he had a very long overstep, would grow to be seventeen hands and he had a high opinion of him (so did we with our very limited knowledge)
otos to enlarge.We had a few great days when we visited him dreaming on the way home of what could be. Our next serious look was when Robbie took us to see him while he was being pre-trained at Robbie's Father's property at Cranbourne just up the road from the racing stables. His sister, Kim (pictured left), brought him from the stable for us to get a photograph and the his father, John, jumped on him and took him around a small circular about six times for us to admire his action. John pointed out his finer attributes and said he had a very long overstep, would grow to be seventeen hands and he had a high opinion of him (so did we with our very limited knowledge)
He also showed us a couple of other Bel Esprits in which he was expecting big things from.
He won a private trial after he missed the start by seven lengths, Robbie was excited, he rang us and before you knew we had done another foal share to one of Vaingt Trois's offsprings, Ruby Trois who won seven races in her career.This Bel Esprit gelding had his 1st start as a 3YO at Mornington last Boxing Day
, led by four lengths half way up the straight only to hit the wall and lost by a head, he was white with a lather of sweat when he returned to the winning enclosure, took time to recover and did the same when he went to Stoney Creek a couple of weeks later,a mile in front half way up the straight, this time he won if only by a short half head, in a lather of sweat, at $1.50 the win. It took him an hour to recover.Questions were asked about whether he was breathing during the race. Back to the drawing board for the trainer.
, led by four lengths half way up the straight only to hit the wall and lost by a head, he was white with a lather of sweat when he returned to the winning enclosure, took time to recover and did the same when he went to Stoney Creek a couple of weeks later,a mile in front half way up the straight, this time he won if only by a short half head, in a lather of sweat, at $1.50 the win. It took him an hour to recover.Questions were asked about whether he was breathing during the race. Back to the drawing board for the trainer.Beltrois went for a spell and Robbie and Ivan Culliver agreed that he should be raced more quietly at the rear of the field on his return to the track, only trouble was he drew barrier 10, 10, and 14 at his starts this preparation for a 4th at Bendigo, 4th and a 3rd at Sandown. Now he was relaxed, 
loved to go to the races, no lather of sweat and learning quickly what racing was all about.
loved to go to the races, no lather of sweat and learning quickly what racing was all about.Last start was at Flemington in a $70,000 3YO race, back from 1200m to 1100m, again he drew wide, raced with no cover and was in front 10m from the line only to be grabbed and beat by a short half head by Bertonic who had cover behind Beltrois into the headwind.
Today he drew a barrier in the $30,000 Danzero At Arrowfield Handicap, Super Vobis for 3YO's over 1210m, had Damian Oliver aboard, sat in behind the front runners, moved to the outside fence where the best going was, upon entering the straight and won by 3/4 of a length with only a cut of the whip to keep his mind about the job. This win put Damian Oliver back in front of Craig Williams in the race for the Jockey's Championship.
Robbie rang straight after the race to congratulate us and say that he would be e
ntered for another Super Vovis 3YO race at Moonee Valley on Saturday week (Bugger, I'm going to miss it)
ntered for another Super Vovis 3YO race at Moonee Valley on Saturday week (Bugger, I'm going to miss it)My Son, Peter, Daughter Rebecca, her husband Brendan and I (we have 50% and are square with our investment) are over the moon about the win. Thanks Robbie, everything you said was true, and we look forward to more wins. I thought the occasion was good enough to give Beltrois a kiss.
Click line below to watch race.
Special thanks to R&R, Rose and Reed who looked after the horse on the day.
This was Robbie's sixth Bel Esprit win, four winners, with more to come
Beltrois (AUS) [2005]Robbie Griffiths
Beltrois (AUS) [2005]Robbie Griffiths
Bel Esprit (AUS) - Vaingt Trois (AUS)
Siblings
MORTGAGEE (AUS) [1998] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)0w-0p-1s $400Race: 1200-1200m Won: 0-0m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
APRES MOI (AUS) [1999] - RANCHO RULER (AUS)2w-9p-19s $27,400Race: 1000-1600m Won: 1400-1400m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
RUBY TROIS (AUS) [2001] - RUBITON (AUS)7w-9p-44s $131,600Race: 1170-1800m Won: 1400-1726m Wet: 0w-0p-2s
VAINGTLAGO (AUS) [2002] - ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)4w-8p-34s $56,900Race: 1170-2400m Won: 1300-2100m Wet: 0w-0p-1s
FRENCH KING (AUS) [2003] - DESERT KING (IRE)1w-2p-8s $16,400Race: 1400-2200m Won: 1600-1600m Wet: 0w-0p-0s
1st Dam
VAINGT TROIS, by Noalcoholic (Fr). Winner at 1100m. Dam of 6 named foals, all raced, 5 winners
2nd Dam
FORETELL, by Comeram (Fr). Unraced. Dam of 5 named foals, all raced, 3
winners, inc:- Premier Poet. 4 wins at 1100, 1200m. Poetic Fortune. Winner at 1300m.
3rd Dam
Foreshow, by Showdown (GB). 3 wins 1400 to 2400m, AJC Vincent O'Brien H., Balgowlah S., 3d NSW Tatt's RC Tattersall's P., L. Sister to TONTONAN, PRODROMUS, Foreclosure (dam of STARCLOSURE), Timetheus, Near Show. Dam of 9 foals, 6 to race, 4 winners, inc:-
Richlen Lad. 5 wins at 1200, 1400m. Moranic's Lament - Purple Velvet (Mal.). 5 wins 1200 to 1600m in Aust and Malaysia. Class 1 winner in Malaysia. Mystic Mill. Started once. Dam of 2 winners- Miss Diaz. 5 wins 1400 to 2430m, $133,950, MRC Bronzetti H., Ilumquh H.
4th Dam
FOREGO, by Orgoglio (GB). 3 wins–1 at 2–5½f to 7f, VATC St Clair H., 2d VRC Essendon H., VATC Teppo S., 3d VRC 2YO H., 4th VATC Sandown Guineas. Half-sister to SAVOY. Dam of 11 foals, all raced, 9 winners, inc:
TONTONAN (c Showdown) Head of The 1973-74 Aust. 3YO & 1972-73 Aust. 2YO (joint) Free Hs. 12 wins–4 at 2–1100 to 1600m, $241,900, STC Golden Slipper S., AJC Sires' Produce S., Doncaster H.
PRODROMUS (c Showdown) 4 wins–3 at 2–1006 to 1408m, VRC Maribyrnong Trial S., VATC Glenferrie H., Glenhuntly H.
winners, inc:- Premier Poet. 4 wins at 1100, 1200m. Poetic Fortune. Winner at 1300m.
3rd Dam
Foreshow, by Showdown (GB). 3 wins 1400 to 2400m, AJC Vincent O'Brien H., Balgowlah S., 3d NSW Tatt's RC Tattersall's P., L. Sister to TONTONAN, PRODROMUS, Foreclosure (dam of STARCLOSURE), Timetheus, Near Show. Dam of 9 foals, 6 to race, 4 winners, inc:-
Richlen Lad. 5 wins at 1200, 1400m. Moranic's Lament - Purple Velvet (Mal.). 5 wins 1200 to 1600m in Aust and Malaysia. Class 1 winner in Malaysia. Mystic Mill. Started once. Dam of 2 winners- Miss Diaz. 5 wins 1400 to 2430m, $133,950, MRC Bronzetti H., Ilumquh H.
4th Dam
FOREGO, by Orgoglio (GB). 3 wins–1 at 2–5½f to 7f, VATC St Clair H., 2d VRC Essendon H., VATC Teppo S., 3d VRC 2YO H., 4th VATC Sandown Guineas. Half-sister to SAVOY. Dam of 11 foals, all raced, 9 winners, inc:
TONTONAN (c Showdown) Head of The 1973-74 Aust. 3YO & 1972-73 Aust. 2YO (joint) Free Hs. 12 wins–4 at 2–1100 to 1600m, $241,900, STC Golden Slipper S., AJC Sires' Produce S., Doncaster H.
PRODROMUS (c Showdown) 4 wins–3 at 2–1006 to 1408m, VRC Maribyrnong Trial S., VATC Glenferrie H., Glenhuntly H.
Griffiths hoping Oliver fires at Sale
By Robert Windmill
17:10 AEST Tue Jul 14 2009
Damien Oliver will ride two horses at Wednesday's Melbourne Racing Club meeting.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is hoping Damien Oliver's hunger for an eighth Melbourne jockeys' title will translate into success for his stable at Sale.
Oliver will ride highly fancied Beltrois in the Danzero at Arrowfield Handicap (1210m) and stablemate Midnight Blues in the in the Cyril Beechey Handicap (1410m) at Wednesday's Melbourne Racing Club meeting.
Griffiths, who also has the Dean Holland mount Scion running in the Yangtze Handicap, said Beltrois was his best chance on the program despite drawing wide in barrier 11.
"I'm optimistic the barrier won't be too much of a negative," Griffiths said.
"He has been drawing ordinary barriers all preparation and it has cost him, but on a winter track they might get to the centre of the track anyway at Sale and get out wider to fresh lanes in the straight."
A Stony Creek winner, Beltrois hasn't finished further back than fourth in his six starts and possibly should have won his last two runs when he flew home to finish on the losing end of a three-way photo at Sandown and half head second to Bertronic at Flemington on July 4.
"He (Beltrois) probably got to them a little bit soon at Flemington but that was the way the race panned out and he got beaten a fraction by what looks like is a pretty good horse," Griffiths said.
"He came out of that run in good order and I think he could make amends this time.
Bel breaks through for first city win
A well deserved victory at metropolitan level for Beltrois at the VRC meeting at Sale on Wednesday
A well deserved victory at metropolitan level for Beltrois at the VRC meeting at Sale on Wednesday
– the lightly raced son of Bel Esprit finding plenty to take out the Danzero at Arrowfield Handicap.
Having only his seventh start, the talented bay had only just missed out at Flemington at his previous start and he has been an exceptionally honest racehorse – not once out of the first four.Also a Stony Creek winner back in January, Beltrois was ridden on the pace during his debut campaign – but not finishing off his races as well as hoped.
This time in he has been taught to settle – a tongue tie added to his gear and his riders instructed to let him find his feet early.That style of riding has really suited Beltrois, jockey Damien Oliver agreeing that it sees him get home better – “he finished too strongly for them today,” he said.
Beltrois is raced by Brian & Peter Donohoe (who raced Beltrois’ sire Bel Esprit), James Lillie (one of the stable’s biggest supporters), Shiranee Griffiths (Robbie’s wife), Yvonne Worthington, Brendan & Rebecca Jones, Don Healy, David McBride and Sam Hendry.
Bred by Robbie, Beltrois is out of the lightly raced Noalcoholic mare Vaingt Trois who was well regarded by the stable – bolting in at debut but racing only one more time.At stud Vaingt Trois has done a great job for us – Apres Moi successful at Benalla and Cranbourne, Ruby Trois a triple city winner, Vaingtlago another metropolitan winner and the lightly raced French King also saluting. Not served last year, she has youngsters coming through by Dash For Cash, Not A Single Doubt and Lago Delight.
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