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.