BEL ESPRIT – VALUE PLUS

With the risk of stating the obvious, Bel Esprit is having a tremendous season.

1. His banner horse, Black Caviar, has clearly lost none of her sparkle with a devastating return in the Lightning Stakes.

2. He has topped the national chart by winners for most of the calendar year with a superior strike rate to that of his peers.

3. His 2YOs, in particular, have been notable with the likes of Clevadude rising to prominence late in 2011, followed by black type performances from Topaque, Diamond Glow and Architect. And they now make way for a potential star in Iconic, winner of the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush on Saturday.

4. If that’s not enough, Loveyamadly became Bel Esprit’s fifth stakes winner for the season and his 16^th overall by taking out the Listed Abell Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night: the second leg of a Valley double for Bel Esprit and his third winner for the day … which he would turn into five winners by Saturday night.

It shouldn’t surprise then that his progeny are gaining currency among the buying bench with a filly selling for $165,000 at the Magic Millions Premier, a colt bringing $250,000 at the New Zealand Premier while, on home turf, he averaged $92k plus with a topper of $280,000 at the Melbourne Premier.

Terrific value for a horse that stood at just $27,500 last spring.