SMART SYDNEY WIN FOR BEL ESPRIT FILLY

It’s been a big week for Bel Esprit as Breednet correspondent Tara Madgwick reports:

On a day when Eliza Park announced a 50% reduction in his service fee, Bel Esprit posted his 61st winner of the season when the Clarry Conners trained filly Apparitions saluted at Canterbury.

Resuming from a spell of 36 weeks, Apparations was ridden a perfect race by Hugh Bowman, settling off the pace and surging through along the inside to win by half a length over 1200m.

 “She injured herself last time in and fractured a bone in her elbow so that’s why she’s been out so long, but she’s a much more mature filly now and can win more races,” said Conners.

Purchased by her trainer for just $16,000 at the 2007 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Kilora, Apparitions is from the Flying Spur mare Stormy Petrel, a half-sister to Group Three winner Coral Salute.

Bel Esprit is the leading Victorian based third season sire, with progeny earnings in excess of $1.9 million: his star performer brilliant mare Bel Mer, winner of the Group One SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes.

He also featured at Flemington on Saturday with exciting two year-old filly Black Caviar, who won on debut by five lengths for the Peter Moody stable.

A $210,000 purchase at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Black Caviar was the dearest Bel Esprit in that sale and is also one of his best bred being from Helsinge, a half-sister to Group One winner Magnus and Group Two winner Wilander.

Set to cover his seventh book of mares this spring at Eliza Park, Bel Esprit is unbeatable value at $16,500, which is his lowest ever service fee, the Group One winning son of Royal Academy (USA) having been launched at $18,150.

Breednet is clearly one of the most informative thoroughbred websites: and not just because of its incisive articles :)

There is a wealth of statistics available and it’s well worth a thorough look.