COOL EFFORT BY BEL 7YO

Great to see Forty Two Below back in the winners’ circle today. The Bel Esprit 7YO won his first race back in April 2009 and has now compiled seven wins and five placings from 23 outings.

Sent out over 1200m at Geelong, Forty Two Below rattled home from last on the turn before scoring with over two panels to spare, and Colin Little’s evergreen sprinter has now won close to $150k.

Forty Two Below is out of the stakes placed Danehill mare, Danish and we understand he’s named after the Kiwi produced vodka.

It was certainly an ice cold performance.

ANOTHER BEL BARRAGE

It was another notable day in the career of Victoria’s champion sire with mares in foal to Bel Esprit selling up to $170,000 on the Gold Coast, along with a ‘coast to coast’ double.

Bel Esprit got the ball rolling at the NSW port town of Kembla when nifty 2YO, Bel Barrage won her maiden with a barnstorming finish, while at Northam in WA, Bomber Bel logged up another first by winning his maiden comfortably.

Bred by Windy Hill Thoroughbreds and sold by Eliza Park for $50,000 at the 2011 Melbourne Premier, Bomber Bel was having only his third outing having debuted with a neck second at Bunbury last October.

Bomber Bel is out of the Suave Dancer mare, Suave Princess, giving the 3YO a double up of both Nijinsky and the massive speed influence, Vain.

Somewhat fittingly, the ‘Bomber’ reference obviously alludes to the horse’s brand – a replica of the Essendon logo … carried with pride by all the foals born and reared at Max and Judi Clarke’s Windy Hill property.

As for Bel Barrage, she clearly shows the fighting quality evident in many of her siblings: the widest runner and well back on the turn, she flew home to knock out the favourite and likely winner, to score drawing away.

This is Bel Esprit’s 10^th individual 2YO winner for 2012-13, joining the likes of Clevadude, Architect, Diamond Glow, Iconic, Topaque and Zellindi that have all flown the flag for their sire this season.

Despite his high standing on the Australian sires’ charts for several years now, this is Bel Esprit’s best showing to date on the juvenile ladder, and is currently 6^th nationally by winners.

YES I CANNA

Terrific to see Bel Esprit sprinter, Canna, back in the winners’ circle yesterday.

Steered perfectly by popular hoop, Eddie Cassar (who rode Testa Rossa for his first five wins), Canna flew home over 1200m at Bendigo for a solid victory.

Now trained and owned by Paul McKenna, Canna was originally raced by his breeders – the O’Brien family – and was named after racing paparazzi, Bruno Cannatelli (below).

With four wins under his girth strap, the equine Canna is now more used to appearing in front of the camera and he definitely has a longer mane than his namesake!

MAGNUS FILLY WAS MAGNIFISIO

Another big win today for Magnus sprinter, Magnifisio, capturing the tabtouch.mobi Handicap over 1200m at Belmont – her second win over the trip (having scored as a 2YO last July) and third city win overall.

Trained by leading mentor, Jim Taylor, after being snapped up for $80,000 at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions, Magnifisio is out of the stakes winning Key Business mare, Ifestio, a sister to Group One winning sprinter Barakey.

Magnus winners in the past week include Magniloquent, Fight to the Line and another city winning filly in Maggie’s Pal.

SUN INTERNATIONAL OPENS IN OZ

Global powerhouse, Sun International Group, has made a memorable entrance to Australia’s thoroughbred sales market by purchasing the highest priced weanling at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Working in closely with dual state operation, Eliza Park, Sun International Group snapped up eight weanlings over the two select sessions, highlighted by the Fastnet Rock colt from Sorority Girl for $290,000 (below).

Other buys included the $250,000 Exceed And Excel filly from Up State and the Commands colt from Terrenora ($210,000).

Sun International Group’s Ting Kong Cheng is excited about his company’s initial foray into the Australian industry and will decide over the coming months as to the future of their new purchases.

“Sun International is very excited about investing here in Australia and, in particular, partnering with such an established and reputable company like Eliza Park,” Mr Cheng said post sale. “It has been a very interesting sale so far and now we’re hoping to pick up some nice mares over the next couple of days.”

WANTED ... WEANLINGS

Wanted remains the toast of the coast with another of his weanlings bringing top dollar at the first session of the 2013 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale yearling.

The Wanted filly from Gold Lyric (below) was knocked down to Magic Millions NSW as agent for $165,000 – 12 months on from his first crop colt (ex. Regal Arena) snaring $255,000 in the same ring.

Wanted’s average of $77,500, thus far, sees him as second leading sire by average for three or more lots sold and he has three more youngsters up for grabs in today’s session.