Bel Esprit - the seven-time and soon to be eight time Champion Victorian sire, Champion Australian sire by winners, sire of over 500 winners and sire of the legendary Black Caviar - has arrived at Eliza Park International Queensland in preparation for the 2015 breeding season.
It's something of an understatment to suggest that his re-location to our Queensland property has been well received and he is poised to cover another big books of mares this spring.
"The phone has been ringing hot since the announcement in May that Bel Esprit would be heading north," EPI's Queensland sales representative, Robyn Wise, points out.
"His record in Victoria has been phenomenal and while I doubt there is a breeder in Australia that doesn't recognise him as the sire of Black Caviar, what a lot of people don't realise is that he went past the 500 individual winners milestone earlier this month, he equalled the Australian record for winners in a season (155) in 2012/13 and has now produced over 100 winners a season for the last five years. What's more, his yearlings are still popular in the sales ring, selling up to $260,000 in 2015.
"Shortly after announcing he was heading to Innisplain, Boban won the Doomben 10,000 and his breeder, Tony Thomas, booked Boban's dam, Kenbelle, into Bel Esprit, while another mare heading Bel Esprit's way is Golden Slipper winner, Merlene.
"He's very popular up here!"
He certainly is and to give Queensland breeders a good look at the Champ, Eliza Park International Queensland will be staging a 'Welcome Bel Esprit/Open Day' at Innisplain from 11.30am on Sunday 19 July (parade commencing at 12.30pm).
Bel Esprit will be joined by his new barnmates: Love Conquers All, Queensland's most popular sire in 2014 (covering 181 mares), the highly promising Exceed And Excel horse, Instinction (first yearlings to sell in 2016), plus the evergreen Monashee Mountain.
