DANSILI SHOWS UP SHARKBITE

Eliza Park’s promising Redoute’s Choice stallion, Sharkbite, has received another boost following the dominant 11 length win of Harbinger in the Group One King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last Saturday.
Now the favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the world’s top rated horse, Harbinger is by European champion sire Dansili, the outstanding Danehill stallion from the immediate family of Sharkbite and both are bred on the same cross.
Dansili stands for 65,000 pounds at the famous Juddmonte Farms and is sire of 42 stakes winners (including six Group One winners) and earnings of $36 million.
Dansili is only 11 years old and is one of five Group One winners by Danehill from his amazing mare Hasili.
Meanwhile, Sharkbite’s sire Redoute’s Choice has emerged as the dominant sire son of Danehill and – significantly – as a sire of sires with his son Stratum siring the Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily in his first crop and Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel also producing stakes horses early in their stud careers.
Sharkbite (below) is a stakes winning son of Redoute’s Choice and stands at Eliza Park for $5,500 including GST.
A boom two year old that realised $900,000 as an Easter yearling, Sharkbite’s first foals are keenly anticipated this spring.
“Sharkbite has been very popular. He is the most in demand stallion at that end of the market in Victoria as everyone considers him a great punt at his fee,” said Eliza Park’s Mark Lindsay.

FIRST FOAL FOR 2010

The first foal of the season ‘arrived’ at Eliza Park on Saturday night (24 July) and, somewhat fittingly, is by Bel Esprit out of the Desert Sun mare Cranachan.
A bonny filly, according to Eliza Park’s General Manager of Operations, David Somers, the newcomer was bred by Bill Ozzimo and Tony Talarico and is Cranachan’s fourth foal following previous visits to Black Hawk and Delago Brom (twice).
Cranachan is out of the Bassenthwaite mare Balmacara whose eight victories included the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes-G2 and was also runnerup in the Easter Handicap-G1.
Producing eight winners (from nine to race), Balmacara’s best was the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Jamieson Valley, while her unraced daughter Admit Anywhere has left black type horse Molotov, Lodge The Deeds and Best Friend.
Bel Esprit is poised to capture his third straight Victorian Sires’ Premiership while Desert Sun – retired from active service last season – is Eliza Park’s foundation stallion.
Interestingly, Eliza Park’s first foal for 2010 is bred on the same Bel Esprit/Desert Sun cross as unbeaten filly, Black Caviar (below).

BALAVAN – THREE FROM THREE

Another super effort yesterday (Sunday) by the Tony Vasil trained Balavan (below), who has now won his only three outings and appears to have a promising future.
A rising 5YO by Bel Esprit, Balavan was first sighted on 27 June when he took out the 1000m Maiden at Cranbourne in cruisy fashion, following up with a second-past-the-post-but-winner-on-protest verdict at Sale on 13 July after being badly hampered in the straight.
But there was nothing ‘tight’ about yesterday’s victory – a return to Cranbourne – scampering away to record a comfortable 3.3 length romp.
Closely related to Golden Slipper winner and leading sire, Danzero, Balavan is out of the Flying Spur mare Danure and was bred by Ange Basseti, who races the Bel Esprit flyer with his family.
Evidently Balavan is Hindu for ‘powerful’ … got that right!

2011 GOLDEN SLIPPER NOMS

Breednet has released some interesting figures relating to nominations for the 2011 Golden Slipper:
Nominations for the 2011 Group One STC Golden Slipper Stakes represent a considerable slice of the commercially bred rising two year-olds of 2010/2011.
From a total 1735 entries (down from last year’s 1799) some 1190 were offered at auction with the remaining 545 either bought privately, leased or retained to race by their breeders.
Of those youngsters that went to the sales 639 came through an Inglis auction, 464 from Magic Millions and 87 from NZB.
This year at Australasian yearling sales we had seven horses sell for $1million or more and four of them have been nominated for the Golden Slipper, with the only absentees being the Zabeel x Gin Player filly (a half-sister to Zarita); Fastnet Rock colt from NZ Derby winner Popsy and the Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) filly from triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, so no real shocks or surprises there.
The dearest entries are the Redoute’s Choice colt from Regrowth that topped Inglis Easter when he fetched $1,875,000 and the Zabeel colt from Diamond Like that was secured by James Bester for $2million in New Zealand and has been entered by Mark Kavanagh.
Twenty of the nominations were sold as yearlings by Eliza Park including the Holy Roman Emperor from Millrich (sold to Peter Moody for $180,000 at the New Zealand Premier) and the Bel Esprit out of Nezzie ($170,000 to Heinrich Bloodstock at the Melbourne Premier).
All up, Bel Esprit has 22 entries, Clangalang (2), Danbird (1, the $55,000 colt sold to Laurel Oak Bloodstock at the Gold Coast Magic Millions), Delago Brom (4), God’s Own (12, including the $310,000 colt from Truly) and no less than 10 by Written Tycoon.

DANBIRD DOUBLE

Nifty double yesterday (Sunday) for promising Danehill stallion, Danbird who is now standing at Glenrae Stud in South Australia (in conjunction with Eliza Park).
Danbird got the ball rolling with Heartbreak Lass notching up a confident victory over 1100m at Hobart, scooting away to score by 3.5 lengths and registering her second win at the track from three career outings.
Bred by Chris Gliddon, Heartbreak Lass is out of the Brocco mare, Capital Growth.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Jack Luey also grabbed his second win by scoring over five furlongs at Carlisle, continuing Danbird’s marvellous run in the United Kingdom, including a victory to Talley Close at Catterick last Wednesday.

LIBERTY’S FIVE IN THREE

Tremendous run by Statue of Liberty late last week, commencing with a win by the appropriately monikered Fast Feet (ex. Landowska by Langfuhr) over 1350m in Sweden on Thursday (22 July), followed by a comfortable victory to Knight Spirit (ex. Minstrel Lady by Jackson Square) at his second start in Singapore on the Friday before a remarkable treble on the Saturday with ‘scores’ for Siberty over 1200m at Ruakaka in New Zealand and a double at Sweden’s Jagersro via Uppercut Action and Troy Bolton.
It was almost a Swedish treble with State of Freedom finishing second at Jagersro.
Remarkably, Statue of Liberty now has winners in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Dubai and Sweden.

BEN TAKES OVER

Takeover Target’s part-owner and budding young trainer, Ben Janiak, lobbed up with a win on Friday (23 July) when Delago Brom 3YO L’Aubaine scored over 1206m at Canberra.
Having his first run for Ben after previously racing out of the Jon O’Connor stable in Adelaide, L’Aubaine fought on strongly to notch up his third career victory.
Out of the Monde Bleu mare Soeur Bleu, L’Aubaine was bred in South Australia by Simon Mancheff.
L’Aubaine’s victory resulted in a two day two state double for Delago Brom following Bellelli’s easy win over 1300m at Rockhampton on Thursday (22 July).
Bred by John Gunning and Shane Gledhill in Victoria, Bellelli is out of the Rancho Ruler mare Miss La La, a Melbourne stakes placed winner of five races, from the family of St Jude.

KINETICS – POETRY IN MOTION

A change of scenery has certainly worked for Delago Brom 3YO, Kinetics, who won his second start today (19 July) – over 1320m at Dubbo – for NSW trainer Dale Wagstaff.
Previously based in Victoria where he was twice placed, Kinetics shifted north in May and hasn’t looked back with two wins and a second from four outings.
Bred by G & H Nicholls in Western Australia, Kinetics is out Scenic mare Scenic Lil, a half sister to Brisbane stakes winner Motspur.
Interestingly, while Kinetics is the study of motion and its causes, Kinetics (the horse) is something of a study in genetics, given that both his sire’s grandsire (Fairy King) and dam’s grandsire (Sadler’s Wells) are full brothers.

ICY POLE

Brian Donohoe, a shareholder in Bel Esprit and author of the popular Bel Esprit Winners Club blog, is currently on a cruise ship heading toward the North Pole.
A fair footy player in his day, Brian was once Chairman of selectors for the Bombers and is great mates with Kevin Sheedy and another Essendon stalwart in Michael Duffy (Chairman of Racing Victoria).
Brian and Kevin both heeded Michael’s advice and purchased a share in Bel Esprit after he was snapped up by John Symons for just $9,000 at the Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.
The son of Royal Academy went on to win over $2 million and is currently poised to take out his third successive Victorian Champion Sires’ title.
As for Brian, he made his crust through establishing Donohoe Ice, a hugely successful supplier of ice products, that first started out of the back of his mum’s milk bar in Moonee Ponds.
So, it’s probably not to much of a stretch to see him heading to the North Pole – probably to check out how Mother Nature makes her ice.
Still, if he wanted to feel cold there was probably no need for him to leave Melbourne!

NO. 10 FOR BEL ESPRIT

Highly consistent filly, Peach Tree (above), became Bel Esprit’s 10th stakes winner on Saturday (17 July) by taking out the Belmont Classic-LR (2200m).
A good thing beaten last time out in the Belmont Oaks-LR (protesting unsuccessfully against the winner), Peach Tree was bred by Kevin Sheedy and is out of the Naturalism mare, Georgia.

Report from Breednet:

The Mark Reed-trained Peach Tree became the first of the progeny of Eliza Park Stud’s Bel Esprit to win a stakes race at further than 1400 metres when she captured Saturday’s Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont Park.
The 3YO filly has been a model of consistency of late, winning over 1300 metres on June 26 before finishing second in the Listed Belmont Oaks a week later.
Ridden by Daniel Staeck, Peach Tree came with a sweeping run from last to defeat Campobello (Hawk Wing) by 1.25 lengths with New Image (More Than Ready) 4.25 lengths astern.
“He settled a treat today and that did the trick,” Reed told Perth Racing. “Hadn’t planned to go that far back but Dan did a great job. She will go for a spell now.”
Peach Tree has now won over $176,000 in prize money with four and seven places from her 14 starts.
A $75,000 purchase at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Peach Tree is the fifth foal of the Naturalism mare Georgia, a mare owned by AFL legend Kevin Sheedy.
Sheedy was a member of the syndicate that raced the John Symonds-trained Bel Esprit who captured the Doomben 10000 (G1) and Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) before the son of Royal Academy embarked on what is becoming a successful and lucrative stud career at Eliza Park.
Georgia is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Painted Ocean from the family that has produced such luminaries as Triscay, La Baraka, Defier and Demerger.
She has a weanling filly by Bel Esprit.

3 FOR 10

It’s worth keeping in mind that Clangalang and Delago Brom – who both had impressive winners on Saturday – are part of Eliza Park’s special 3 for 10 deal, whereby you can send three mares to either Clangalang, Delago Brom, Sharkbite or Written Tycoon for just $10,000.
The first three stand at an advertised fee of $5,500, while the VERY popular Written Tycoon stands for $6,600.
For further information phone David Somers 0428 440 330, Mark Lindsay 0416 334 338 or Phil Marshall 0407 853 782.

SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT CLANGLANG WINNER

Interesting how some horses get their names. Take Wilbo at Moe on Saturday (17 July) … winner No. 30 for Clangalang.
Only reference to ‘Wilbo’ we can find is that Wilbo is a Poland-based company operating in the fish processing industry, offering a wide range of products including ...canned fish, frozen fish, fresh fish, smoked fish and breaded fish (sounds like that bloke out of Forest Gump that was always going on about shrimp!). 
Another giveaway is that Wilbo is out of the Pride of Place mare, Sea Belle, and was bred by Michael Templeton.

ECSTATIC WITH DELAGO FILLY

Nice win on Saturday (17 July) by Delago Brom filly, A Class Above, who scored easily over 1615m at Emerald.
Bred by Otto Hoffelner, who also raced Delago Brom, A Class Above is out of the Brief Truce mare A Class Act, also dam of the Group Two winner and multiple Group One placed, Ecstatic Macau (below) who was placed in the Blue Diamond Preview-LR before shifting to Macau.

BEL IN SEASON

Deserved win by Seasonality at Geelong on Thursday (15 July): his fourth visit to the winners’ circle from 15 outings.
Deserved? Well, his previous three starts had produced seconds – beaten 0.2 lengths, 1 length and 0.1 lengths – while this campaign alone the Bel Esprit 4YO has grabbed cheques from seven of eight trips (including two wins).
Bred by Michael Abell, Seasonality is out of the Citidancer mare Quatre Saisson (half sister to dam of dual Group One winner Regimental Gal) and was purchased by Slade Bloodstock as a weanling.

LAD WINS NO. 7 FOR BEL

Bel Esprit ‘blogmeister’ Brian Donohoe is currently touring the North Pole (no, seriously!) but Bel Esprit isn’t taking a break with winners over the past two days.
First cropper, Esprit Lad (bred by Menzies Racing Stables and out of the Geiger Counter mare Lady Marple), became Bel Esprit’s ‘winningest’ racehorse by notching up his seventh career victory with a comfortable win over 1120m at Dubbo on Monday (12 July).
Only lightly raced, Esprit Lad has now brought home a cheque on 15 occasions from just 23 starts, giving trainer Richard Jackson and his owners a whole bunch of fun.
And yesterday (13 July) at Sale it was hard to know which Bel Esprit to cheer for with both the Angelo Basetti bred and owned, Balavan (ex. Flying Spur mare Danure) and Brian Coyle’s bred and owned Humma Mumma (ex. Last Tycoon mare Unfinished Story) fighting out an absolute ding dong over the 1013m at Sale.
Trained by Lyn Tolson, Humma Mumma won over 1000m at Cranbourne in May and followed up with a city placing at her next outing: although she held on gamely in the straight and actually got the nod in a photo finish, but Tony Vasil’s unbeaten 4YO Balavan won in the stewards’ room after Humma Mumma drifted out over the concluding stages.
Both appear to be well on target for city honours in the not too distant future.

ANADOLU IS STATUE’S 11TH

Terrific performance by Statue of Liberty 2YO – Anadolu – in taking out the Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes-LR in Ireland on Sunday (11 July) and, in the process, became her sire’s 11th stakes winner.
Tracking the leader for most of the 5 furlong journey – the highly favoured Exceed And Excel filly Moonlit Garden – Anadolou pounced in the final furlong to score with half a length to spare.
A half sister to five other winners, including the stakes placed Libero Mercato (8 wins), Anadolu is out of the stakes winning Relaunch mare, Afto – a Group Two winner at Hollywood Park who hails from the family of dual Group One winner Avatar.
Statue of Liberty is currently wending his way to Australia from Japan via the United States, oblivious to the success of his progeny which include victories to Brierty (ex. Linamix mare Bridelina) on Friday and Fastfeet (ex. Langfuhr mare Landowska) in Europe on Saturday.
Following on from Hay List’s stunning victory in the Healy Stakes at the end of June, interest in the Storm Cat stallion has never been stronger and Statue of Liberty will again cover a full book of mares this spring (Fee: $17,600).

Hoofnote: Anadolu is trained by Tracey Collins, who had this to say following Anadolu’s debut victory at the end of May: “That’s my first horse for the owner Selman Tasbek who is a trainer in Turkey. Michael Keogh bred her for him and he decided to leave her here in Ireland. We don’t usually run our horses so quick but she came out of the race in the Curragh so well we decided to take our chances. We’ve always thought a lot of her and hopefully she’ll be able to step up a bit.”
She sure did Tracey!
And if you’re wondering where the name – Anadolu – hails from, it’s a university in Turkey which, surprisingly, is the fourth largest in the world by enrollment.

SEX IN THE CITY - 927 STYLE!

Appears that Sport 927 has introduced a new segment to its morning show : a movie review!
927 staffer, Russell Cameron offsider and former Eliza Park toiler) Brent Crawford was one of the first out of the barriers to see the latest version of Sex In The City and, surprisingly, gave the flick the thumbs down on the brekkie shift with Michael Christian and Tony Jones.
When the famous playwright, Dorothy Parker was once told she was outspoken, she replied: “out spoken by whom” … and Brent has certainly taken a leaf from her book.
After listening to Brent’s blurt – click below – we’re confident you’ll agree they should make the Movie Review a regular spot.
As for his poke at Akker, you’d be tipping Brent’s door came off at the hinges.

RACE A BEL ESPRIT WITH KEVIN SHEEDY

AFL legend, Kevin Sheedy (left), appears to have the Midas touch.
It was nearly 10 years ago that some of his Bomber mates talked him into a share in a Royal Academy colt that John Symons had picked up at the Sydney Classic sale.
The colt would become known as Bel Esprit and would go on to win a Blue Diamond and Doomben 10,000 before retiring to stud where he is now on the verge of capturing his third straight Victorian Sires’ title.
Naturally enough, Kevin kept an interest in Bel Esprit and, in the spring of 2007, sent his Archway mare, Archie’s Magic – closely related to Flemington stakes winner Rich Habit – for a visit.
Producing a cracking filly, Eliza Park sold the up and comer at this year’s Adelaide Magic Millions for $60,000, with promising young trainer Jason Petch snapping her up.
Now Kevin has a few mares, but so impressed was he with this particular filly, he’s kept a slice of the pie for himself.
Currently there is 40% left in the filly but we got that update a few days ago so it might pay to give Jason a call on 0408 589 611 to see just what is left.
According to the stable, the filly (pictured below) has broken in well and is having her first prep, before being tipped out for another short break.
Suggest you call Jason pronto because her remaining shares are not the only thing that is likely to go quick.

LATEST IN MODERN TECHNOLOGY

Got absolutely nothing to do with thoroughbreds, but the following photos were dragged off one of those old brownie cameras: almost 69 years after they were taken.
Evidently the camera had been stored away in a foot locker and it’s a wonder the film survived for that length of time.
The photos were taken by a sailor at Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941.

ANOTHER SUPERIOR DELAGO

Yes, we keep harping on about Delago Brom … but with good reason.
Superior Instinct, a Delago Brom first cropper, registered his third career win over 1400m at Rosehill on Saturday (3 July).
Trained by Kevin Moses, the 5YO rarely puts in a bad performance despite this being his first visit to the winners’ circle since scoring successive victories at Canterbury as a 3YO.
However, he has placed on no less than eight occasions – the majority in town – and rarely fails to bring home a cheque.
In just 25 outings, Superior Instinct has recorded three wins and 10 placings for nearly $130,000 in stakes … not bad when you consider his asking price at the Gold Coast Magic Millions was $41,000.
Bred by Sheriff Iskander and Joe Camilleri in NSW, Superior Instinct is a half brother to three winners including Queensland stakes winner Umaprince.
Out of the Naturalism mare, Instinctive – a half sister to Champion mare Skating – this is also the family of Murtajil, Bradbury’s Luck, Juste Momente and co.

CONNECTING THE BEL DOTS

It’s probably fair to say that Bel Esprit hasn’t had much of a platform in Western Australia, with the vast majority of his runners based on the east coast.
That said, most of the recent Bel Esprit ‘traffic’ has largely been devoted to the deeds of his runners on the other side of the Nullabor including the victory of Lady Beldon last Thursday at Northam and the continued deeds of brilliant filly Peach Tree.
Speaking of which, wasn’t she a good thing beaten in the Belmont Oaks-LR on Saturday? Taking nothing away from the eventual winner, Peach Tree had very little room to work with in the run home and eventually missed out by a long neck after coming from 10th on the turn.
She thus went close to becoming Bel Esprit’s 10th stakes winner (jockey Daniel Staeck lodged an unsuccessful protest), but is clearly a filly with above average ability.
Suitably Connected, who originally raced in Victoria and NSW, was suitably successful and suitably rewarded when he appeared over 1200m at Carnarvon on Sunday, his second victory and fifth cheque from 12 outings.
Bred by Peter Cameron, Suitably Connected is out of the Godswalk mare, Seaside Attraction, an outstanding Melbourne sprinter who won six races: who has subsequently produced seven winners since retiring to stud.
Importantly – well as far as Eliza Park is concerned – her multiple city winning daughter, Weekend Surprise, is in turn the dam of Moonee Valley Champagne Stakes-G3 winner Dan Baroness who just happens to be a daughter of Statue of Liberty.
An outstanding family, other members include Group One winner Pride of Rancho, Golden Slipper winner John’s Hope and Sydney Cup winner Count Chivas.

GEE, HE’S A GOOD SIRE

Delago Brom has enjoyed another big week with Daryl Cannon’s 4YO Desiago notching up his second career victory in a thriller over 1900m at Geelong, while the Bede Murray (part)owned and trained Sir Peppercorn shared the spoils with a dead heat victory over 1300m at Goulburn.
Bred by A Spyratos (who has also retained a share), Desiago is out of the Zephyr Zip mare Sea Gems (a 6-time winning half sister to Tranquil Star winner Seapost), while Sir Peppercorn – bred by A Hall – is out of the Halo mare Wendy Peppercorn, from the family of Dubai World Cup hero Curlin.
Delago Brom is clearly one of the best value sires standing in Australia and here’s a few reasons why:

• The son of Encosta de Lago has now produced over 100 winners including five stakes winners
• During June he notched up 13 winners – four of those days he didn’t have runners so in effect he’s averaging a winner every two days
• In 2010 alone he has produced a stakes horse for every crop of racing age: 5YO (Ecstatic Macau), 4YO (De Fine Lago), 3YO Danaupair Starlet (Group winner and Group One placed), 2YO Radha Rani – and has a budding superstar in 3-time city winning 2YO Condelago
• Delago Brom has had runners in six countries this season: Australia, New Zealand, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia – his progeny have won in four while his sole runner in New Zealand is yet to score in three starts … however, his starter in Hong Kong has won $A48,700
• He has produced winners from 900m to 2500m, of his eight stakes horses, four are male and four are female and they win on fast, good, dead, slow and heavy!
• Delago Brom’s yearlings have sold up to $75,000 in 2010

… not bad off a $5,500 service fee!

Even better when you take into account that Eliza Park is again offering its special 3 for 10 deal this spring, whereby you can send three mares to either Clangalang, Delago Brom, Sharkbite and Written Tycoon for $10,000.

AMBITIOUS LIST FOR HAY LIST

Hay List’s trainer John McNair says the outstanding sprinter could do all of his spring racing in Melbourne if the weather holds up in October, writes Brad Waters. Hay List (Statue Of Liberty) stamped himself as one of Australia’s most exciting prospects with a crushing five-length win in the Healy Stakes (Gr 3) at Eagle Farm on June 26.
McNair issued an ominous warning to Australia’s sprinting ranks, saying the son of Statue Of Liberty had coped with the float trip to Brisbane “unbelievably well”.
“I was just amazed with how well he was when he got back from Brisbane,” McNair said. “He was so much better when he got home; he really thrived on the trip away.”
McNair said there was “several options” to consider before deciding on a spring campaign for the rising five-year-old but Hay List is likely to make his Melbourne debut in the $200,000 McEwen Stakes (Gr 3) at Moonee Valley on September 11.
A pleasing performance in the McEwen Stakes is likely to set up Hay List for a shot at his maiden Group I win in the Manikato Stakes, also at Moonee Valley, on September 25. McNair said the weather would decide Hay List’s next run after the Manikato Stakes with The Shorts and the Gilgai Stakes to be run on the same day, October 2.
“He will run wherever the track is better on that day,” McNair said. “If it’s wet in Sydney and dry in Melbourne, he’ll run in the Gilgai but otherwise he’ll probably run in The Shorts.”
According to McNair, the Caulfield Sprint, Salinger Stakes and the Patinack Farm Classic are all on the agenda for Hay List but the trainer said the giant gelding would not run in all of the events.
McNair said he would travel to Melbourne “in the next week or two” to find accommodation for Hay List and his likely travelling companion, the speedy My Vegas.
McNair has booked Glyn Schofield to ride Hay List throughout his spring campaign.
- ANZ Bloodstock News 3 July 2010

PLENTY OF INTEREST FROM WA

We read somewhere through the week about a Brisbane uni student who walked from Perth to Melbourne with just the one set of boots. Didn’t do it for a bet or for charity … simply for something to do during the holidays.
Now, given the level of excellent transport systems in place, we don’t advise you follow suit, but the recent level of interest from West Australian breeders for Eliza Park stallions will see quite a few broodmares make the trek across the Nullabor this spring.
Statue of Liberty has “gone through the roof” during the past week on the back of former Perth sprinter – Hay List – demolishing a quality field of sprinters in the Healy Stakes last Saturday, while bookings for Bushranger – a son of WA’s former ‘gun’ stallion, Danetime – have also been brisk.
That said, Bel Esprit is more than holding his own with folks out west following the win of Peach Tree last weekend and highly favoured to become her sires’ 10th stakes winner in today’s Belmont Oaks-LR.
But the speedy Lady Beldon also put her two bob’s worth in on Thursday (1 July) with a confident on the pace victory over 1400m at Northam to increase Bel Esprit’s fan base in WA.
Lady Beldon, trained by Damian Winn, is out of the Alzao mare Futile and was bred by Canungra Pastoral Co Pty Ltd in Queensland.
Futile was multiple Group placed and is now the dam of four winners (from five to race) including the stakes placed Priscilla.