Melbourne, Vic (Feb 14th, 2010) - Bel Esprit’s star filly may have been missing from the Group I William Reid Stakes field at Moonee Valley on Saturday but that didn’t stop Eliza Park’s young stallion making headlines with a 1-2 result in the Schweppervescence Plate.

Tollesprit grabbed the win with a last stride effort to deny True Persuasion in a thrilling finish and the Group I Newmarket Handicap is his next start for the Shane Fliedner prepared gelding.  

Tollesprit had been a brilliant first up winner at Flemington two weeks ago, sent out as the short priced favourite plenty of punters cheered when he got his nose down on the line to score by a short-half head.

The son of Bel Esprit, a $26,000 graduate from the 2008 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, had drawn barrier one at Moonee Valley, but after a great ride by Williams and his class, he proved too strong for True Persuasion giving the Eliza Park stallion the quinella.

“I was a bit concerned because the Valley can bring some horses undone,” Fliedner said.
  “He does take a little while to wind up. That’s why he is so well suited at Flemington.”
“The first run (and win at Flemington) really tucked him up and while he could easily have been beaten here it really did fit into the pattern.”
“But he needed to come here for the gallop.”
Fliedner said it looked at though his current stable star would head toward the $1 million Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 6.
“He’ll get in with no weight and the track certainly suits him.”
“He’d be a good chance with a light weight.”

The Newmarket has always been on the radar for Fliedner following his close up eighth in a Group One Ascot Vale at the same track late last year.

“After the Coolmore (Ascot Vale) in the Spring I set him for these three races all along. So hopefully we’ll keep going.”
“With the way the others are starting to drop away, I’ll just try and get this bloke him and keep him sound.”
Fliedner said he wasn’t sure when watching the race live if his charge had got up in the last stride to score. He said being on the outside was a great advantage.
“I thought it was close,” Fliedner noted. “It’s very deceiving.”
“I’ve been here before and thought I’d won in a photo, but got beat. It must have been my turn.”

Tollesprit put in a big bound on the line and he was able to get up and beat True Persuasion (ex True Peace by Brief Truce) by a short-half-head.

Another length-and-a-quarter away in third place was the well supported early leader Dissolved (Lonhro - Yarralumla by Grand Lodge), who was very fresh pre-race and raced accordingly.

Tollesprit is turning into an incredible money spinner for connections. The $26,000 buy at Morphettville has now earned more than $220,000 from just 11 runs. 

Tollesprit is one of four winners from his dam, the top producer Tolleranza.  An unraced daughter of Alzao, Tolleranza is also the dam of the Flemington stakes winner Belle Ball (Jetball), who in turn is the dam of stakes placed youngster Detroit Tiger.
 
Bel Esprit is one of the 99 stallions that has yearlings on offer at the William Inglis Premier yearling sale where he has 30 yearlings by him to go under the hammer (March 1st - 4th) while at the Easter sale Bel Esprit has three yearlings on offer (April 6-8th).

Tags: Eliza Park Stud, William Inglis, Yearling Sales
Permalink| Feb 14, 2010

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