Bel Esprit Never Better

Media Release - Thursday November 29

With another four winners at Pakenham and Kyneton on Thursday, it’s hard to keep up with the Bel Esprit winners, as they just keep coming - 11 in the past seven days.

However, the four-year-old Bel Esprit gelding Bel Sonic deservedly gets an extra mention.

Bel EspritHaving unleashed a brilliant turn of foot to claim the Magic Millions Classic (1100m) at Ballarat on Saturday, the Jason Warren trained sprinter came from last at the 400m marker to swoop past his ten rivals and record a super impressive victory with Regan Bayliss in the saddle.

"They rolled along at a nice tempo and I stalked Johnny Allen, on Platinum Angel, peeled off his back at the 200-metre mark and this fella, once he got mobile, he was strong right through the line," Bayliss said.

"He has got a devastating turn of foot, and he showed that today."

A long-time supporter of the Bel Esprit progeny, Warren plans to take the son of Bel Esprit to the sunny state to contest either the $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) or $1 million Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) on the Gold Coast on January 12th.

A 4-time winner of $349,400, BEL SONIC is out of the Elusive Quality mare, Ausmaid whohas been a terrific producer for the Sun Stud team, with Phil Marshall from nominations commenting that her first four foals are all winners, with 18 successes between them.

"Her third foal, Capannello, ran second in a Blue Diamond Preview and Bel Sonic looks destined for black type this preparation. He ran fourth in the Listed Creswick behind Nature Strip at Flemington earlier in the year and Jason Warren believes the son of Bel Esprit has come back better than ever this time in," Marshall said.

The progeny of Bel Esprit have now posted an incredible 650 career winners to date.

"Bel Esprit has been at his productive best this season with 46 winners and over $2.3m in progeny earnings – he's in 13th place for winners and is 24th for prize money on the Australian sires table, he's a remarkable stallion and an asset to the farm."

"Breeders have really embraced his return to Victoria too, Bel has covered 90 odd mares already this season and he still loves his job."

Ausmaid had a Magnus filly sell for $100,000 at this year's Magic Millions Perth yearling sale and Marshall has high hopes for her 2019 offering by freshman sire, Ready For Victory.

"The Ready For Victory yearling out of Ausmaid is unquestionably the standout filly in our Adelaide draft, she's all quality and is sure to have plenty of admirers,"Marshall said.

"We have some nice Ready For Victory's to sell next year and I think the stallion's progeny will be well received at the sales – they look like real running types."

"Ausmaid has a strong flashy chestnut filly by Palentino on the ground and has been covered by leading second season sire Fiorente this season," Marshall said.

"The mare is a fantastic breeder and a great mum, she has been an excellent purchase for the farm and I believe the best is yet to come as far as her offspring are concerned."

TBV News

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