Twenty-Sixth Stakes Winner for Bel Esprit

Mark Smith - Saturday January 19

The 5-year-old Bel Esprit mare Belwazi made her first stakes attempt a winning one in Saturday's Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington and in the process provided a welcome to Victoria for the champion South Australian jockey Jamie Kah.

A late nomination for the race by trainer Jerome Hunter, Belwazi overpowered the equal favourites Glenall and Champagne Cuddles. (photos Grant Courtney)


"I wanted Jamie for the ride because I have watched her in South Australia and horses just seem to travel so well for her," Hunter told AAP.

"I thought we're going to a big race and I knew she would be hungry for it.

"I think she's a very gifted rider."

Belwazi advances her record to 7 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 18 starts with earnings of $222,790.

The Gathercole family homebred is the seventh and penultimate foal of the Rory's Jester mare Nkwazi who died in 2017.

The dam of six winners including the tough-as-teak Our Nkwazi, Nkwazi was a half-sister to the talented racemare Ocean Bridge (Dolphin Street) who is the dam of the Listed Breeders' Plate winner Run for Wilson (Shamardal) and the Group II Tea Rose Stakes winner and Group 1 Flight Stakes and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes runner-up Longport (Casino Prince).

The final foal of Nkwazi is an unraced 3yo filly by Choisir named Our Wazi.

Belwazi becomes the 26th stakes-winner for Sun Stud's Bel Esprit.

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Ton For Bel
Sun Stud’s perennial champ, Bel Esprit has again notched up 100 individual winners for the season with promising 3YO, Ashrad, leading throughout to notch up his maiden win at Wangaratta on Sunday.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Bel Esprit Sprinter Wins Takeover Target
Sun Stud's evergreen sire Bel Esprit featured at Gosford on Thursday when the Australian Bloodstock colours were carried to victory in the $150,000 Listed Takeover Target Stakes by Tactical Advantage.