BIG WEEK FOR BEL

It was a pretty big week again for Bel Esprit, kicking off with Bel Sprinter’s rollicking return in the Group Three McEwen Stakes at the Valley on Saturday (the second leg of a daily double).

Then, on Wednesday, Trevor Dansie’s Striding Success (ex. La Bella Zoccola) – gee, those Snippets mares nick well with Bel – lobbed with his fifth win at Morphettville.

But Friday really capped the week with a treble (from just four runners on the day) when River Spirit (ex. River Fairy by Perugino) and Vigneron (ex. Lenswood by Woodman) notched wins in New South, while Caught Unaware (ex. Startle by Flying Spur) grabbed yet another win in Queensland.

Heinrich stable runner, Caught Unaware, was sent out a warm favourite and saluted accordingly, but what about Vigneron … an 8YO who has finished in the first three on no less than 25 occasions.

Heartbreak of the week though goes to my second favourite Bel Esprit in Canna.

Bred and raced by the O’Brien family and named after photographer to the stars, Bruno Cannatelli, the evergreen performer was shooting for win No. 4 over 1400m at Bendigo and despite coming from the clouds, he got beaten by the proverbial whisker. If only he had Bruno’s nose! (that said, people in glass houses …)