|
60.
Eliza Park Welcomes
Bel Esprit
|
28/05/2003 |
|
|
|
Outstanding
three-year-old Bel Esprit will end his racing career in the $1 million AAMI
Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
Bel Esprit’s syndicate of owners came to an agreement with Victoria’s Eliza
Park Stud on Wednesday to retire the rising four-year-old after the Stradbroke.
The son of Royal Academy will begin stud duty at Eliza Park in the spring with
his service fee to be announced after the Stradbroke.
Eliza Park secured the standing rights to Bel Esprit before he contested last
year’s Golden Slipper Stakes where he suffered his first and only defeat as a
two-year-old when he finished fifth as favourite.
Eliza Park has since had an input into his racing program under trainer John
Symons but the decision to retire the colt still rested with his owners that
include Essendon AFL coach Kevin Sheedy.
“There were pros and cons to consider but the owners have reached agreement
that he should begin his stud career this year,” Eliza Park Stud’s John
Miller told Racing and Sports.
“They weighed up what is best for the horse and agreed that he should retire
after he runs in and hopefully wins the Stradbroke.
‘We are delighted to be adding Bel Esprit to our stallion roster this spring
as he is udoubtedly one of the most exciting young stallions in Australia.”
Miller said Eliza Park and the Bel Esprit syndicate will retain the majority of
the shares in the stallion but a limited number will be made available to other
breeders at a yet to be determined price.
Bel Esprit will be seeking his third Group One win in the Stradbroke to go with
his previous major victories in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield
and his brilliant return to winning form at his latest start in the Doomben Ten
Thousand on May 17.
The Doomben Ten Thousand was Bel Esprit’s eighth win in 18 starts that also
includes five minor placings. It also took his stake earnings to $2,073,600.
Bel Esprit suffered only one loss in six starts as a two-year-old and began his
three-year-old season with successive wins in Listed and Group races at Moonee
Valley and Caulfield.
He then endured a frustrating run of defeats, including second placings in the
G1 Eat Well Live Well Cup, G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Newmarket Handicap,
before bouncing back in the Doomben Ten Thousand.
Bel Esprit will join an impressive group of stallions at Eliza Park as the stud
has been has been intent on securing classy young Australian stallions for stud
duty.
Also beginning their stud careers at Eliza Park this spring are Australian
Guineas winner Delago Brom and the brilliant Group winner Planchet.
Sunline’s sire Desert Sun, Jetball and the high class imports Val Royal, Grass
Wonder, Black Hawk and Johan Cruyff make up the current Eliza Park roster.
|
