Second Stakes for Bel Esprit's Tactical Advantage

Mark Smith - Tuesday November 5

If Australian Bloodstock was disappointed with the performance of their colour-bearer Mustajeer (GB) in the Melbourne Cup it didn’t take long to bounce back with the Bel Esprit gelding Tactical Advantage breaking a run of outs in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Damien Oliver for trainer Kris Lees, Tactical Advantage pounced on the leaders in the final two hundred metres to defeat

Holbien (Pierro) by one and a half lengths with Milwaukee (Fastnet Rock) one and a quarter lengths back in third.Tactical Advantage wisn for Australian Bloodstock

It was his first win since the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford in January.

“We were really happy with him coming here today. He came out of his Caulfield run quite well, he was unknown up the straight, but he got a lovely ride and everything set up nicely for him,” Lees said.

“There was a good tempo and Damien exposed him at the right time and he was very strong and it was a perfect surface for him.”  

Advertisement

A Gooree Stud homebred that was purchased by Australian Bloodstock last year, Tactical Advantage advances his record to 10 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $707,650.

Tactical Advantage is the best of five winners from as many to race out of the Group III placed Encosta de Lago mare Above Perfection, a daughter of stakes-winner Actress from the family of Gooree Stud's Group I winners Desert War, Laser Hawk and Romantic Touch.

Above Perfection has a 2yo filly by Artie Schiller (USA) named Kaakit Akit, a yearling colt by Shalaa (IRE) and foaled a Smart Missile filly two weeks back.

Sun Stud’s 20-year-old sire Bel Esprit continues to churn out the winners, which is why he remains one of Victoria’s most popular stallions at a fee of $11,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Mss Security Sprint LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.91
1
Tactical Advantage
- 6g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Above Perfection (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: D Oliver 58
Bel Esprit
2
1.5
Holbien
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Carribean Sunset (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: S J Richards Rdr: Lachlan King 54
Pierro
3
2.8
Milwaukee
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Hummingbird (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: L Currie 56
Fastnet Rock
4
3.8
Parsifal
- 5g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Della Lobra (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Damian Lane 55
5
4.6
Lagerfeld
- 5g Denman (AUS) x Coco Kerringle (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
6
5.4
Smart Coupe
- 5m Smart Missile (AUS) x Coupe (AUS) (Spinning World (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
6.2
Intuition
- 5g Street Cry (IRE) x Radar (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
8
7.0
Runson
- 7g Delzao (AUS) x Runs On Dreams (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: S Baster 54.5
9
7.3
More Than Exceed
- 4g More Than Ready (USA) x Exceedingly Regal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Kayla Crowther 54
10
8.1
Crown Fontein
- 5g Turffontein (AUS) x Miss Crown (AUS) (Bellotto (USA))
Tnr: J E Hickmott Rdr: Sairyn Fawke 54
11
8.2
Royal Symphony
- 5h Domesday (AUS) x Naturalist (AUS) (Palace Music (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: D Dunn 58
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 20
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Millions - The Book
The famous US sports journo, Red Smith, once proclaimed that : “writing is easy … I just sit down at my typewriter and open a vein”.
Twenty-Sixth Stakes Winner for Bel Esprit
The 5-year-old Bel Esprit mare Belwazi made her first stakes attempt a winning one in Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington and in the process provided a welcome to Victoria for the champion South Australian jockey Jamie Kah.
Another Ton For Bel
Sun Stud’s perennial champ, Bel Esprit has again notched up 100 individual winners for the season with promising 3YO, Ashrad, leading throughout to notch up his maiden win at Wangaratta on Sunday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
Cambridge Stud Celebrate Ceolwulf Victory
Homebred Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick.