BEL’S GROUP ONE SEASON

Regardless of whatever happens in the final quarter, Bel Esprit is experiencing his best season … ever.

Following Bel Sprinter’s devastating burst in last Saturday’s The Galaxy, he has become – to the best of our knowledge – the only sire to produce two individual Group One winners in 2013.

Furthermore, courtesy of winners such as No Manners (over 1400m at Sandown) and Esprit’s Choice (4.5 length winner at Warrnambool) through the week – Bel Esprit (below) retains his handy lead on the Australian Sires’ chart by winners … and with a superior winners to runners strike rate.

Everything is ship shape: Black Caviar is poised to race again next week, while his other runners include the exciting stakes winner Loveyamadly (6 wins and 3 placings from 9 outings) and another up and comer in Angels Beach who remains unbeaten after two outings. She is no Black Caviar but she is trained by one P Moody! Angels Beach is a half sister to the Group winner Patronyme, whose first foal will be sold by Eliza Park at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale (Lot 251) next Wednesday.

It’s a position he retains today and, importantly, with a superior winners to runners strike rate than those nearest.

Aiding and abetting are his finest crop of two year olds: one time Magic Millions favourite, Clevadude, Group placed Architect and another black typer in Topaque lit up the stage before Christmas, while inaugural VOBIS Gold winner Diamond Glow and Iconic – who won the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush – just two weeks ago, have carried the torch into 2013.

Not surprisingly, his 2013 yearlings are very much in demand at major sales with his youngsters selling up to $165,000 on the Gold Coast, a colt sold for $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.

Full steam ahead.