Derby Winner for Bel Esprit

Tara Madgwick - Monday July 21
Lonhro might be setting the pace for individual winners in Australia this season, but Bel Esprit is right there with him just a couple behind and one of those winners is Royal Request, who took out the $135,000 Northern Territory Derby at Fannie Bay in Darwin on the weekend.

Bel EspritPrepared in Victoria at Kyneton by Neil Dyer, Royal Request won easily when making his Darwin debut on June 21 and then was second to Gravitational in the Northern Territory Guineas over 1600 metres.

He turned the tables on that rival over the 2000 metres on Saturday when forging clear to win by two lengths, his overall record now three wins and three placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $144,000.

A $60,000 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainer from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft, Royal Request is the only winner to date for Nassidarra, a half-sister by Nassipour (USA) to Group II winner Fickle Hostess from Group II STC Silver Slipper winner Vaindarra.

Turning 15 this year, Bel Esprit continues to churn out the winners for Eliza Park International and even without his retired superstar Black Caviar, he remains the most successful Victorian based sire this season with 152 winners of $5.3 million in prizemoney.

Bel Esprit stands at a fee of $24,200.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.