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.