BEL – FIVE IN THREE

Bel Esprit has already notched up five winners in the first three days of the new season, culminating in a treble on Saturday with Clevadude, Bellantina and Plain Lucky.

Interestingly, he had five winners in the first three days of last season, eventually going on to equal the all-time record for most winners in a season.

Hope it’s a case of history repeating itself!

NORTHERN DANCER - 50 YEARS ON

Noticed a tweet earlier about Northern Dancer. It was 50 years ago yesterday that the industry immortal won his first start – at the Fort Erie racetrack.

Winning seven from nine as a 2YO, he was named Canadian Juvenile of the Year, before going on at three to capture the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

All notable achievements, but it’s his legacy stud that will still have us talking about him – with the same level of awe – in 50 years to come (only it won’t be me!).

The following is a good read on Northern Dancer and his Kentucky Derby win – click here – but just to illustrate his impact on Eliza Park International alone, 12 of our 13 stallions boast the Northern Dancer sireline!

BEL’S DUDE SCORES FIRST UP AT VALLEY

Despite being off the scene since January, Bel Esprit flyer Clevadude showed both a clean set of hooves and the promise for spring glory with a resounding win at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Lining up in the Sweeney Can Do Agents Handicap over 1000m, the Rick Hore-Lacy trained now 3YO was in a ‘can do’ mood and now has three wins from four to his credit.

A one-time MM 2YO Classic favourite following blistering wins at Cranbourne and Moonee Valley in December, he drew the car park on the Gold Coast and never got in it.

Any questions of him being a two hit wonder though were dispelled at the Valley and, no doubt, Rick has some juicy spring plums in mind, including the Caulfield Guineas or Coolmore on Derby Day.

Topping the Summer Session of the Gold Coast Magic Millions when knocked down for $225,000, the Bel Esprit youngster is out of the Jetball mare, Jezeera and was bred, reared and sold by Eliza Park International.

DRIVING VICTORY BY DR BROCK

Congratulations to Julie Sampson and Meridy Taite on the win of their home-bred, Dr Brock, over 1200m at Geelong on Friday.

Having turned five just the day before, Dr Brock is very lightly raced and was stepping out for just the third time in the Sportingbet Handicap. And a very impressive win it was – leading throughout for John Moloney and his pair of owner-breeders.

First sighted when winning at Geelong in April, the Bel Esprit speedster resumed with a half length second at Geelong on 19 July and it will be interesting to see where he heads from here.

Dr Brock is out of the Flying Spur mare, Gawne, a Melbourne stakes winner and multiple stakes placed for the Sampson/Taite combo and also a granddaughter of Group One winner Satin Sand.

RECORD SEASON FOR BEL ESPRIT

Statistics for 2012-13 racing, a year that ended July 31, indicate that Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit (by the Nijinsky sire Royal Academy) has set new Victorian records for earnings and numerically and at the same time equalled the national best for one sire for number of individual winners.

Bred by Philip Gunter, sold at the Sydney Classic Yearling sale for only $9,000 and a leading Australian juvenile and 3YO sprinter, the Eliza Park International based Bel Esprit has finished the year with Australian figures of 155 winners (better than 50%) of 249 races and $7,363,639. Overseas runners increase these to 164 winners of 266 races and $8,166,216.

His national individual score of 155 winners equals the Australian record set in 2010-11 by the Danehill sire Commands, now at Darley after starting with the Inghams at Woodlands, Hunter Valley.

Since he had his first runners in 2006-07 (nine 2YO winners), Bel Esprit has been consistently successful. He has been Victoria’s Leading Sire by earnings and numbers in each of the past five years and nationally on earnings fifth 2010-11 and sixth in each of 2011-12 and 2012-13. He stands the 2013 season on $33,000. - Brian Russell Media

COOKIE, BUT NO BIKKIES FOR BEL

You’re kidding me, right? In the season 2012-13 season, Bel Esprit had to share the all-time record for most winners in a season when his glorious run stopped at 155.

We shouldn’t be too disappointed – after all, equaling a record is still a record and Bel did it with a better strike rate, but still …

In the last few days of July he had some go very close, yet as luck would have it, No. 156 just couldn’t lob.

So, imagine our frustration when his very first runner for 2013-14 – a tick over 13 hours into the new season – gets the money over 1000m at Coffs Harbour!

Racing in the somewhat appropriately named Ooh Maiden, Slick Cookie was very slick scoring by over two lengths for trainer Bob Milligan.

Bred by Eliza Park International, Slick Cookie is out of the Suave Dancer mare, Suave Princess, in turn a half sister to Drop Anchor, the dam of Bel Esprit Group One winner, Bel Mer (below) and another of his Group winners in Mooring.