BEL TOLLS 9 IN 3

Won’t be able to do the individual winners justice without turning this into War and Peace, but Bel Esprit has produced nine winners in the past three days … a double on Friday, four on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Frankly Fast (ex. Frank’s Hack by Marauding) got the ‘weekend’ off to a good start before Comic Star (ex. Comic Dane by Rory’s Jester) won his second on the trot to cap the daily double.

While much of the attention was on Caulfield with victories to Vain Attraction (with another Bel in City of Song grabbing second) and the very promising Miss Softhands, both Austy Coffey’s Rebel Ridge (ex. Cineraria by Encosta de Lago) and the 8-time winner Belcino (ex. Ciento by Century) played a big hand in the ‘quaddie’.

(And let’s not forget the terrific effort of Audacious Spirit who finished just a neck of the pace when fourth in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm – his second stakes placing in a row).

And then you have Sunday’s trinity: Sue Murphy’s 3YO, Jolly Bel (ex. Jolly’s Folly by Bluebird) kicked off with a comfortable win at favourite, followed by Cleaver (ex. Mill Lady by Straight Strike) who registered win #3 and, finally, Belahi (ex. Manihi Miss by Ark Regal), another winner for owner breeder, Ted Huglin.

Bel Esprit is now firmly ensconced in the top 3 of Australia’s sires chart by winners and it’s worth pointing out that among his 60+ winners for the season, not one of them is called Black Caviar.