TOPAQUE NO. 3 FOR BEL ESPRIT

For someone who couldn’t tell you the difference between a Nebbiolo or Cardboard Shiraz, I’m not about to wax lyrical on the merits of Topaque with your truffles.

However, the victory of first starter, Topaque, over 1000m at Morphettville on Saturday should have breeder/owner, Vintage Bloodstock, uncorking the odd bottle in celebration. For it was some win by the Bel Esprit 2YO who races out of the powerful Tony McEvoy stable.

Topaque is out of the Danehill mare, Tresillian, who – as it turns out – was also a winner at Morphettville as a 2YO. That said, mum took six goes to notch her first win whereas Topaque really looked the goods when she ran away to score by two lengths from the likes of recent trial winner and race favourite Thomason.

For all of his success, this is arguably Bel Esprit’s best crop of two year olds thus far with three city winners: each with an abundance of talent.

Clevadude won at Cranbourne and Moonee Valley and was penciled in as favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic before drawing out in the car park and missing the start.

Peter Moody’s Diamond Glow is another to fly the Bel Esprit flag, winning convincingly on debut at Caulfield after jumping poorly and overracing until around half time.

While Clevadude is now off the scene until winter, the future certainly looks bright for the other pair and their might be a few more Topaque’s opened before the season’s done.

Bel Esprit