Heigl, Spirits in the Sky, Beau Desert, Bel Estar,

BEL'S BIG WEEK
It doesn’t appear that Bel Esprit – named Champion Victorian Sire on Saturday (1 August) for the second year running – is about to rest on his laurels.
Just three days into the new season, Bel Esprit logged a two state treble with Heigl and Beau Desert scoring at Echuca, while Spirits in the Sky lobbed at Forbes.
And, making it a quartet on Thursday (6 August), Bel Esprit entire grabbed the major prize at Sale with Bel Estar.
Indeed, since the season commenced on Saturday, Bel Esprit has had 16 runners for 4 winners and 11 money earners.
Heigl, bred by long time Eliza Park client Shane Stiles, was having just his second start for trainer Peter Morgan after finishing midfield at Wodonga in July.
Part-owned by Sirecam principal, Sport 927 commentator and former Collingwood great, Michael Christian, Heigl is a half sister to Kiwi Group One winner Rockabubble from the Rory’s Jester mare, Blond Rocket, in turn a full sister to Caulfield Guineas-G1 and QTC Sires’ Produce-G1 winner Chortle.
Shane Nichols’ lightly raced sprinter, Beau Desert, registered his second win from his past three outings when successful over the 1012m journey at Echuca.
Bred by Eliza Park, Beau Desert is out of the Straight Strike mare Desert Strike and is raced by a number of the stud’s clients.
A half brother to Desert Sun stakeswinner Real Time, Beau Desert is closely related to Wellington Cup-G1 winner Samasaan.
The well named Spirits in the Sky (from the Hurricane Sky mare Cosmic Dust) rounded out Monday’s treble with an exciting win at Forbes.
Closely related to Melbourne stakeswinners Slipstream and Blazing Aspect, Spirits in the Sky was bred by Contract Racing, Brian and Peter Donohoe and Kerry Good and produced a couple of placings from four starts, including a second at Wagga on 15 May.
Purchased by Shane Beattie at the Great Southern Bloodstock Sale a week later, the NSW trainer then produced him at Wellington in mid June before turning him out for a few weeks.
Resuming at Wellington at the end of July for a midfield performance, Spirits in the Sky was back in the winners’ circle at Forbes: not a bad effort – an $8,500 purchase scoring two wins from three starts in just over two months.
John Wheeler hasn’t overtaxed his nifty Bel Esprit 4YO, Bel Estar, who notched up a classy win at Sale on Thursday (6 August) to round out a sensational few days for his sire.
Having raced on just nine occasions, Bel Estar has brought home a cheque from six of those starts and the Sale win was his second after injury had the entire on the sidelines for nearly a year.
Bred by Simon Hearnden-Hunter, who is also a part-owner, Bel Estar is out of the Timber Country mare, Gamelan, a daughter of multiple Group winner Reno Belle.