Stallion Profile September 2003

Bel Esprit

Nijinsky grandson is shaped by a legacy of speed

He may have been labelled a “diamond in the rough” by some as a yearling, but Bel Esprit has had the last laugh on his critics as the winner of $2m. In this profile DAVID BAY examines the racing career and pedigree of this dual Gr.1 winner who is covering his first book of mares this spring.

BEL ESPRIT’S brilliant speed is hardly surprising when you consider his pedigree. Both factors - this pace and his lineage - should ensure his success as a stallion.
A dual Gr.1 winner, at 1200m and 1350m, of eight of his 19 starts, Bel Esprit is by Royal Academy (USA), who was fast enough to land the July Cup-Gr.1 (1200m) at Newmarket and tough enough to defeat the world’s best milers in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (1600) on turf at Belmont Park.
His dam, Bespoken, is by Golden Slipper winner Vain and a half-sister to Blue Diamond Stakes winner Mahassin and they are daughters of Gr.1-winning juvenile Vin d’Amour.
All of which makes Denis Roberts, the general manager of Lee Fleming’s Eliza Park at Kerrie in Victoria, a very happy man indeed.
“We bought into the horse early on while he was still racing and I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I went to inspect him before the sale as there were all sorts of stories about his legs,” Denis said.
(Bel Esprit, bred by Phil Gunter and offered at the 2001 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney, made just $9000 as a yearling to the bid of Victorian trainer John Symons).
“However I was delighted when I saw him, he’s very much like his old man, with a quality head and lovely eye and immense presence.
“He has a couple of splints on his legs which are unsightly but didn’t affect his soundness and he toes in a fraction in his off fore, but a lot of stallions have made it despite not being 100% in the legs and they were certainly a lot worse than this horse who retired sound after 19 starts in the best company.”
To prove his point Denis has made sure that one of the recent advertisements for the young stallion featured a prominent photograph of “the legs in question”. He believes fashion as much as anything else is responsible for Bel Esprit’s sale price.
“Royal Academy was having a quiet patch at the time and missed a couple of our seasons after 1999, being sent to South America instead and perhaps that’s why people overlooked this colt.
“John Symons was delighted to get him for that money and $2m in prizemoney later he’s still smiling.
“Remember too that this horse competed against the likes of Choisir, Helenus, Yell and Planchet - all from the same great crop. His runs in the Newmarket (to Belle du Jour) and Caulfield Guineas (to Helenus, Choisir third) were outstanding.
“We will be supporting the horse very strongly and the response from breeders has been excellent, a lot of people have visited already and they have been impressed.
“I guess Bel Esprit will cover between 100-110 mares which we call a full book for a first season sire.”
In fact some of the mares already lined up for the grandson of Nijinsky include Scandinavia, winner of the QTC Cup-Gr.2 and Blue Diamond Preview-Gr.3 as well as being placed in the Salinger, Goodwood, Newmarket and Lightning Stakes, all Gr.1; Millrich, a Group-winnning two year-old, third in the Golden Slipper-Gr.1; Love To Dance, a Gr.1-winning two year-old; Te Akau Star, dam of Group winners Melora and Piper Star; Barbut Delcia, Gr.1 winner, dam of the Group winner The Secondmortgage; and Martelemeo, the stakeswinning dam of Gr.3-winning juvenile Danaides.
Bel Esprit will also cover half-sisters to the stakes winners Alcove, Rustic Dream, Zeya, Blixen and Riva Diva.
Bel Esprit, who is bay and stands 16.1 hands, was foaled on August 29, 1999 and had his first start a little over two years l ater on October 27, 2001, lining up against eight others in the Listed St Albans Stakes (Pierre Fontaine Trophy) over 1000m at Moonee Valley.
In what was to become his trademark style in that first season, the colt hit the ground running and was never headed, finishing four lengths to the good of Bella Vichy in 58.95 with almost three lengths to third placegetter Cousy. On November 10 came the Maribyrnong Plate-Gr.2 (1000m in 57.03) - again a win by four lengths.
John Symons gave his colt a break and he returned to racing on January 26, 2002, continuing his unbeaten run by collecting the Blue Diamond Preview-Gr.3 by 4.5 lengths (1000m in 58.84) from C’Est le Reve. The Blue Diamond Prelude-Gr.3 (1100m in 1:05.21) was next on February 10, this time the margin 1.5 lengths to Cool Trent.
Then, on February 23, came the colt’s most serious assignment in the Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m) against 13 of the country’s best juveniles. Bel Esprit became the first all-the-way winner of this event since Paint in 1996 and gave his rider Wayne Treloar, who rode Rancher in 1982, his first success in more than a decade.
Although tiring near the line, Bel Esprit showed great courage to hold out the filly Brief Embrace and win by a neck in 1:09.23 with subsequent VRC Sires Produce Stakes-Gr.1 winner Pillaging a length back in third.
Bel Esprit had a month before his next start in the Golden Slipper-Gr.1 at Rosehill and his unbeaten run ended with a luckless fifth, just 1.5 lengths from winner Calaway Gal who ran a record 1:08.81 to beat Victory Vein and Choisir. That run marked the end of the season for the son of Royal Academy.
Bel Esprit’s second season began on a winning note with a three length win in the Listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1000m in 59.04) at Moonee Valley on August 17, 2002, beating Able Choice and Yell into the minor placings.
He was three lengths in front of runner-up Yell in the MRC HDF McNeil Stakes-Gr.3 (1100m in 1:01.99) on August 31 and then ran into champion sprinting mare Spinning Hill in the MVRC Manikato Stakes-Gr.1 (1200m in 1:10.52), going down just three-quarters of a length with Mistegic third.
This was the start of series of frustrating runs in Gr.1 events and was followed by seconds to Pernod in the Invitation Stakes-Gr.1 (1400m) and to Helenus in the Caulfield Guineas-Gr.1 (1600m), beaten 1.5 lengths with Choisir third. The latter run was on an unsuitable dead track as was his unplaced run next start in the W.S. Cox Plate.
Bel Esprit was given another break and resumed on February 9, 2003 with a fifth to Choisir in the Lightning Stakes-Gr.1 (1000m) and then an unplaced run on a dreaded slow track in the Oakleigh Plate.
He was back on a good track next start and was game in defeat to a Golden Slipper winner Belle du Jour in the VRC Newmarket (1200m in 1:08.64), beaten less than a length and with two lengths to third-placed Super Impressive in a field of 21.
An unplaced run behind Yell in the William Reid saw him sent for another break before what was to be his final campaign.
He resumed on May 3 with a third behind Spinning Hill and Yell in the T.J. Smith-Gr.2 (1200m) on a dead track at Randwick and then put up a sterling performance on a dead track when he won the Doomben 10,000-Gr.1 (1350m) from Private Steer and Spinning Hill on May 17 at Doomben (1:18.35, 56kg, 1.5x1.8 lengths).
He was retired after an unplaced run behind Private Steer in the Stradbroke Handicap-Gr.1 (1400m), again on a dead track, on June 7.
Trainer John Symons said after the event that he had “every confidence” in Bel Esprit’s ability to prove himself as a sire.
“Besides being a proven Gr.1 horse he is a fantastic type and very intelligent,” Symons said of Bel Esprit.
“You only had to show him something once and he knew straight away what he was supposed to do. He also has a lovely conformation and although some people have claimed he is off-set at the knee that’s not right. It might appear that way but that’s only because he is slightly turned at the fetlock joints.
“When you think about it there couldn’t be too much wrong with him because he was competitive at Gr.1 level for more than 12 months without causing me any worries at all.
“The biggest problem was that he didn’t like wet tracks and unfortunately we just kept striking them right through but in the end, he still put a great record together.”
Bel Esprit retired to Eliza Park as a dual Gr.1 winner of eight races with five placings from his 18 starts for prizewinnings of $2,073,600. His service fee is $18,150, including GST.
His sire Royal Academy (Nijinsky-Crimson Sain by Crimson Satan) was the most expensive yearling purchased at public auction in 1988, selling for $US3.5m at Keeneland where he had been bred by Tom Gentry. He was trained by “the master” Vincent O’Brien in Ireland and raced in the colours of the Classic Thoroughbreds Syndicate.
The son of the 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky (also trained by O’Brien), had his first start at the Curragh in an aptly-named Late Developers Two Year Old Maiden (6f) on September 10, 1989 and promptly romped in by 10 lengths as 2/1-on favourite, giving one Ron Quinton (now a successful Sydney trainer) who was on the runner-up, windburn as he sailed past.
The wheels fell off next start though when he was unplaced as favourite in the Dewhurst Stakes-Gr.1 behind Dashing Blade and he was put away for the year.
The following season O’Brien tested his charge as a miler and he won first-up in The Tetrarch Stakes-Gr.3 (7f) at the Curragh, beating Gilt Note by three lengths as 3/1-on favourite.
Next came the Irish 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 (8f), and Royal Academy proved difficult to load (his sire Nijinsky was a handful at times and even Bel Esprit held up the Blue Diamond when he proved reluctant to go in the stalls - it certainly didn’t stop them galloping) but jumped well and ran a great race despite being collared by English 2000 Guineas winner Tirol on the line. He was beaten a neck with Lotus Pool third, Machiavellian fourth and Mr Brooks fifth in the nine horse field.
Royal Academy was labelled a “bad boy” when he refused to enter the stalls for the St James’s Palace Stakes at his next start, and he finally reappeared at Newmarket on July 12 for the July Cup-Gr.1 (6f) and behaved perfectly, settling near the rear of the field but always going well. He took the lead inside the final furlong and his powerful finish was too much for the Cork and Orrey winner Great Commotion, the latter going down by three-quarters of a length with 11/4 favourite Rock City a neck back third.
The super sprinter and 2/1-on favourite Dayjur proved too strong in the Ladbroke Sprint Cup-Gr.1 (1200m), beating Royal Academy by 1.5 lengths with five lengths to the third-placed Phaoroh’s Delight and a further three lengths to Great Commotion.
“Royal Academy again produced a first class turn of finishing speed and was closing on the runaway Dayjur all the way to the line, giving the impression he would have given the winner more to do had not his jockey encountered problems getting a clear run approaching the final furlong,” went the report in Racehorses of 1990.
Royal Academy’s regular jockey John Reid missed the big horse’s (he’s 16.2 hands) final start through injury, and the mount in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf at Belmont Park on October 27, 1990 went to Lester Piggott who had only just returned to riding after a five year retirement.
“Dropped to the rear as soon as the stalls opened and well back for most of the race, Royal Academy improved from sixth or seventh, half a dozen lengths behind the leaders, turning into the short straight and showed a dazzling turn of speed brought to challenge on the outside.
“Responding gamely to the whip inside the final furlong, Royal Academy caught the 36/1 outsider Itsallgreektome in the shadow of the post, winning by a neck, with the strong-finishing Priolo three-quarters of a length further away third,” continued the Racehorses of 1990 report.
The previous year’s winner Steinlen was fourth with the race run in 1:35.24.
Royal Academy, described by his trainer as “one of the best yearlings I’ve seen” provided a notable high point for Vincent O’Brien towards the end of a long and distinguished career, and also gave the Irish their first Breeders’ Cup win.
Syndicated for around £IR5m, he retired to Coolmore in 1991 at IR30,000 guineas, no foal, no fee.
A son of great racehorse (11 wins, two seconds in 13 starts, English and Irish Derbys, English 2000 Guineas, St Leger) and sire Nijinsky (Northern Dancer-Flaming Page by Bull Page) and the rocket propelled filly Crimson Saint, Royal Academy has a first rate pedigree.
During her three-year racing career, Crimson Saint showed brilliant speed, winning the 1973 Hollywood Express Handicap-Gr.3 at Hollywood Park and three other stakes.
As a two year-old in 1971, she equalled the world record by running four furlongs in :44.80 at Oaklawn Park. While winning the Meteor Handicap at Hollywood in 1973, she set a track record for five furlongs in :56.
The dam of 12 foals, Crimson Saint (Crimson Satan-Bolero Rose by Bolero) produced seven winners from eight starters, including Group winners Terlingua, Pancho Villa, and Royal Academy, Listed stakes winner Alydariel (dam of Jeune Homme), and stakes-placed runners Encino (a brother to Royal Academy and sire) and Border Run.
Terlingua, a daughter of Secretariat, was Crimson Saint’s second foal and she won seven stakes events during her three-year career, including the 1978 Hollywood Juvenile Championship-Gr.2, Del Mar Debutante-Gr.2 and Hollywood Lassie Stakes-Gr.2. She is the dam of two graded stakes winners, including Gr.1 winner Storm Cat, who topped the North American general sire list in 1999 and 2000 and has sired more than 100 stakes winners.
Her brother Pancho Villa, won seven of 18 starts and earned $596,734 including the the 1985 Bay Shore Stakes-Gr.2, Silver Screen Handicap-Gr.2 and two other stakes events before a successful career as a sire.
Crimson Satan (a son of Spy Song) won 18 races including the Charles H. Strub Stakes and sired 33 stakes winners. His daughters have produced more than 80 stakes winners including Mt Livermore (whose runners include the Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Orientate). Bolero Rose won nine races including two Listed events.
Royal Academy’s fifth dam Rowes Bud (Broomstick) is also the ancestor of turf stars like Be My Guest, Golden Fleece and Jaipur (Family 8c Woodbine).
Royal Academy has been one of the great successes of the shuttle system, capable of siring Gr.1 horses in both hemispheres, much like his other pioneer stablemates at Coolmore, Bluebird and Last Tycoon.
He retired to stud in Ireland in 1991 and Australia in 1994 and was Leading First Season Sire in the UK and Australia. With progeny earnings approching $60m, he is back at Coolmore, Jerrys Plains in 2003 (at a fee of $27,500), while his Breeders’ Cup Mile-Gr.1-winning son Val Royal (FR) (ex Vadlava by Bikala) beds down for his second southern season (at $17,600) alongside Bel Esprit at Eliza Park. He also shuttles to Ireland.
Other Gr.1 winners by Royal Academy include the dual Irish St leger winner Oscar Schindler, English 1000 Guineas winner Sleepytime and her Sussex Stakes-winning brother Ali-Royal (a short-lived but successful shuttle sire), Zalaiyka, Kenwood Melody, Carmine Lake, and Lavery.
His Australian runners also include Quays, La Bella Dame, Tears Royal, Phoenix Park, Honour the Name, Prince of War and Sarson Trail. He has more than 500 winners (78sw) worldwide.
Bel Esprit’s dam, Bespoken, was unplaced in three starts but is a half-sister to Blue Diamond Stakes winner Mahassin (Biscay) and is a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner Vain (Wilkes (FR)-Elated by Orgoglio (GB)).
A brilliant two year-old, he won six of seven starts including the Slipper (by four lengths), Maribyrnong Plate and VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes (by 10 lengths, running the 6f in 1:09.2 and taking seven tenths of a second off the race record) and was runner-up in the AJC Sires’ Produce.
Vain went on to compile a similar record at three with his six wins and a second in seven starts including the George Adams Handicap, Craven A Stakes, Freeway Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes (six lengths to Black Onyx, new track record 7f in 1:23.00) and Caulfield Guineas. He won 12 races from 4.5f-8f (900m-1600m) and retired to Widden Stud at the end of that season as the greatest stakeswinning three year-old in the history of Australian racing (1969-70, $145,335).
A son of three times-Champion Sire Wilkes (FR), Vain also became Australia’s Champion Sire (1983-84), was a multiple Champion Sire of Two Year Olds and an outstanding broodmare sire (his daughters have produced the winners of $60m including successful runners and sires like Jetball, Keltrice, Kenvain, Ideal Planet, Centaine).
His star performers included the Golden Slipper winners Inspired and Sir Dapper, the Oakleigh Plate winner Mistress Anne and others like Kenmark, Charity, Snowing, County, Zegna, Rainbeam and Proud Knight. Vain’s dam Elated won 10 races (5f-6f) and was third in the Oakleigh Plate.
Bespoken’s dam Vin d’Amour (Adios (GB)-Gliteren by Final Orders) was a very good performer in NZ where her wins included the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes-Gr.1 and Matamata Breeders’ Stakes-Gr.2 and she is a half-sister to Gr.3 winner and Gr.1-placed Secret Seal.
This family traces to the imported Cassia (GB) (Sweetmeat-Lady Fanny by Humphrey Clinker), bred in England in 1854 and whose recent family members include VRC Derby winner Omnicorp.
Vin d’Amour’s sire Adios II (GB) (Silly Season-Angello by Crepello) was a Gr.2 winner at two and hails from the family of Byland, Rich Gift, Nimbus, Grey Sovereign and Raffindale, while his sire, Silly Season, is best known in this part of the world via his Dewhurst Stakes-winning son Lunchtime (whose daughters should suit Bel Esprit).
Gliteren won five races and produced four winners from five foals. In addition to stakes winners Vin d’Amour and Secret Seal, she is also the dam of Wagtail (grandam of Perth Cup-Gr.2 winner and WA Derby-Gr.1 runner-up King of Saxony).
Bel Esprit has a pedigree that should suit a wide range of broodmares, but mares by horses like Jetball and Canny Lady look particularly interesting as do those by Keltrice and mares carrying the great Mr. Prospector.
Perhaps down the track mares by sons and grandsons of Storm Cat (such as Tale of the Cat and Johannesburg) will also become available.
His speed, precocity and toughness make him just the sort of horse to become a successful sire here and Eliza Park is certainly giving him every opportunity in his first season - it looks to me as if they have picked a winner.