Bel Esprit a Victorian boy

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Posted by Danny Power on Jul 15, 2011 | 0 comments

Bel Esprit a Victorian boy

Eliza Park’s Bel Esprit is set to be a four-time leading Victorian stallion, and he is sits 6th on the current Australian general sires’ list. It has been more than 30 years since a Victorian stallion was named Australia’s Champion sire, when Century took the national title in the 1978-79 season, although Encosta De Lago achieved the feat thanks to a base of winners from his Blue Gum Farm crops before his move to New South Wales.

Bel Esprit (pictured) has sire 104 winners in the 2010-11 season – of course, his headliner is the unbeaten champion Black Caviar.

Bel Esprit’s barn-mate Written Tycoon will win the Champion First Season (earnings) Stallion title, the first Victorian-based stallion to win it since Flying Spur in the 1999-2000 season – Flying Spur stood his first season at Chatswood Stud, Seymour, before relocating to Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW.

It’s an apt time to reflect on the influence of some of Victoria’s great stallions.

Australian Champion stallions who have stood in Victoria:

1902-1903 Pilgrim’s Progress (GB) (Isonomy-Pilgrimage) Stood in Victoria.

1915-1916 Wallace (Carbine-Melodious) St Albans Stud, Geelong. Victoria.

1918-1919 The Welkin (GB) (Flying Fox-Woodbury) Melton Stud, Toolern Vale, Victoria.

1919-1920 Comedy King (GB) (Persimmon-Tragedy Queen) Noorilim Stud, Murchison, Victoria.

1920-1921 The Welkin (GB) (Flying Fox-Woodbury) Melton Stud, Victoria.

1921-1922 The Welkin (GB) (Flying Fox-Woodbury) Melton Stud, Victoria.

1922-1923 Comedy King (GB) Noorilim Stud, Murchison, Victoria.

1948-1949 Helios (GB) (Hyperion-Flying Gal) Warlaby Stud, Oaklands Junction, Victoria.

1965-1966 Better Boy (IRE) (My Babu-Better So) Range View Stud, Vic.

1970-1971 Better Boy (IRE) (My Babu-Better So) Range View Stud, Vic.

1971-1972 Better Boy (IRE) (My Babu-Better So) Range View Stud, Vic.

1975-1976 Showdown (GB) (Infatuation-Zanzara) Stockwell Stud, Diggers Rest, Vic.

1976-1977 Better Boy (IRE) (My Babu-Better So) Range View Stud, Vic.

1977-1978 Showdown (GB) (Infatuation-Zanzara) Stockwell Stud, Diggers Rest, Vic.

1978-1979 Century (Better Boy-Royal Suite) Mornmoot Stud, Whittlesea, Vic.

Breeding lines:

Bel Esprit (b h 1999, Royal Academy (USA)-Bespoken, by Vain)

Written Tycoon (ch h 2002, Iglesia-Party Miss, by Kenmare (FR))

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