CLEVA WINS RINGS BEL

Bel Esprit is the sire of the world’s best sprinter and is currently Australia’s leading sire by winners. He is also, as of last Saturday, the sire of the 2013 $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic favourite.

In a sparkling performance at Moonee Valley, Clevadude absolutely eclipsed his rivals in the Sportingbet Plate – leading from start to finish and logging a ever widening four and a length margin by the time they hit the wire.

Bred, raised and sold by Eliza Park, Clevadude topped the Summer Session of the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions when snapped up by Rick Hore-Lacy for $225,000: a figure that could well be turned into petty cash come his Gold Coast assignment on 12 January.

It seems likely that success on the Gold Coast would turn the compass south to the $1 million Blue Diamond on 23 February, where he may emulate his sire. Maybe even a trip to Sydney for the world’s richest 2YO race, the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on 6 April.

Hore-Lacy might have slightly toned the rhetoric since Clevadude’s opening salvo at Cranbourne on 15 December, but clearly harbours high hopes for his Bel Esprit youngster: “He has the perfect temperament for a racehorse and I think he’s the real deal”. Reflecting on his statements at Cranbourne that Clevadude rates alongside his other great horses such as Redoute’s Choice and Canny Lad, Hore-Lacy added: “I did mean it, but I was too afraid to admit I did mean it”.

One can only assume he would be less afraid following Craig Newitt’s revelation that “we didn’t find the bottom of him today but when challenged I’m sure there’s another gear there”.

Bel Esprit has now tallied a remarkable 41 wins in the last 30 days and holds a handy lead on the Australian Leading Sires by Winners chart.

But Clevadude wasn’t the only Bel Esprit 2YO to draw attention recently with Architect producing a rousing third in the Group Three BJ McLachlan Stakes over 1200m at Doomben last Saturday.

Another graduate from the Gold Coast’s 2012 summer session, Architect had absolutely no luck in running at Doomben and found himself last of 12 turning for home.

However, once he got moving, the Lorraine Erhart trained youngster mowed down his rivals to finish only a length and a half shy of the winner.

Clevadude might not be the only one vying for headlines this summer!