BEL ESPRIT THREESOME

A great day out for Bel Esprit progeny on Sunday (11 April) with another treble for Victoria’s Champion Sire.
Apple Esprit got the ball rolling at Colac, while Cascabel then Darwin scored at Cranbourne.
Will have to check with stats guru, Brian Donohoe, as to the number of trebles that Bel Esprit has now notched up, but he has moved significantly up the charts with 75 winners for the season, which has him hovering close to the top 10.
Apple Esprit was notching up her second career victory – the first for trainer Rick Harrison – when successful over the 1100m at Colac.
Out of the Zeditave mare, Zapple, Apple Esprit was bred by Victoria’s Nardoo Valley Stud and is a full sister to Strudel, who won in Western Australia on 5 April.
Zapple is out of the brilliant Danehill mare and 5-time stakes winner, Apple Danish.

Robbie Griffiths’ Cascabel (left) is proving to be one of the great bargain buys after the Cranbourne trainer picked him up for just $18,000 at the 2007 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
With four wins (and six placings) from 20 starts now tucked under his belt, Cascabel has returned his very excited bunch of connections over $140,000 in stakes and, based on his win at Cranbourne, there’s plenty more where that came from.

Out of the Kala Dancer mare Gogo Doll, Cascabel was stepping out in the Highview Accounting Service-72 Handicap and Brad Rawiller rode him a treat, getting up by a panel and a bit.
Bred by Richard Pietrykowski, Cascabel is owned by Mick Baker, Paul Beckham, Greg Burgess, Michael Burslem, James Chan, Barb Gallaher, Damian Goss, Rose Mackey, Ricky Bobby Syndicate, Les Newman, Lloyd Palmer and Darren Ricardo … the happiest crew of owners you’ll find.
Below is an interesting chart compiled by Brian – the Bel Esprit trainers’ premiership – and it’s interesting to note that Robbie’s win has him tugging at Mick Price’s coat.
Last but certainly not least is the Mark Jackson trained 4YO, Darwin, who captured the seventh at Cranbourne – the Settlers Run Golf Club Handicap-62 over 1400m.
Only lightly raced, Darwin won his previous race almost 12 months to the day, picking up a Stawell Maiden on 12 April 2009.
However, Darwin had been on the sidelines for 37 weeks and his four runs since resuming include a third at Cranbourne, plus yesterday’s win.
Out of the Sound Reason mare, Lady Acumen, Darwin was bred by Dr Michael Rose at Gisborne and is a half brother to five winners including Adelaide Cup-G1 winner The A Train, multiple Group placed Instantly and Launceston Cup-G3 runnerup Lady Atire.