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.
Although he has
gained global attention as the sire of racing immortal, Black Caviar, it's
worth noting that Bel Esprit has sired 682 winners in 11 countries – at a
strike rate of 68%! – with over $68 million in progeny earnings. Indeed, his
$5.65 million in earnings this season again place him among Australia's Top 20
active sires.
Meanwhile, 2019
stakes winners such as Tactical Advantage and Belwazi are just two of Bel
Esprit's 52 stakes horses, which also include Group One winners Bel Mer and Bel
Sprinter.
With consistency
being the key, Bel Esprit has produced – on average – 130 winners a year
world-wide for the past 10 seasons and is rapidly gaining currency as a
broodmare sire too, particularly in light of the 2019 deeds of Hong Kong Horse
of the Year, Beauty Generation, Group One winner Costa Viva and 15 other stakes
horses.
Still hugely popular
with breeders, Bel Esprit covered 95 mares last season and stands at Sun Stud
in 2019 at a fee of $11,000 with no payment until live foal.