BEL RINGS TWICE AT VALLEY

The Bel Esprit juggernaut rolled through Moonee Valley on Saturday (25 July) with the Champion Victorian Sire scoring a double with exciting 2YO True Persuasion and Beltrois.

The Mick Price trained True Persuasion was lining up against $1.55 hotpot Tan Tat Brav, but the Bel Esprit colt proved too strong in the run home to register a half length win.

Racing for the first time in January (finishing second), True Persuasion resumed in June with a fifth at Flemington before following up with a fast finishing third over 1200m at Sandown on 11 July.

True Persuasion was bred – and is owned – by Marion Smart, a staunch supporter of the Victorian thoroughbred industry, who sent her Brief Truce mare, True Peace, to Bel Esprit after earlier visits to Delago Brom and General Nediym.

A 3-time winner, True Peace is a granddaughter of Group winner Sister Shirley and hails from the family of Vanquished, Party Mood and Potential Star.

To view the race, click here.

The victory of Beltrois was a thriller and breeder and trainer, Robbie Griffiths could be forgiven for reaching for the bottom drawer after his 3YOs gutsy performance.

Coming from well back off the pace, Beltrois swooped over the final stages to knock out Desert Sun gelding Sol Brillante right on the line.

This was the second win on the trot for Beltrois who, 10 days previously, had the distinction of registering win # 200 for his sire Bel Esprit (somewhat fittingly, Beltrois is part owned by Brian Donohoe, who raced Bel Esprit and meticulously compiles data for the Bel Esprit Winners’ Club).

Beltrois has now won three of eight starts with a further three placings and over $130,000 in stakes.

Out of the Noalcoholic mare Vaingt Trois, Beltrois is a half brother to four winners and hails from the immediate family of Golden Slipper/Doncaster winner Tontonan.

To view the race, click here.