A champion two-year-old, Bel Esprit would go on to sire champions, including one named Black Caviar

BEL ESPRIT (Royal Academy), the influential stallion best known as the sire of unbeaten champion sprinter BLACK CAVIAR, died at the age of 26 in February 2026 but has left a lasting legacy that will extend well beyond his passing. Bel Esprit famously won the Gr.1 Blue Diamond 24 years ago as a two-year-old. Trained by John Symons, he was the dominant juvenile in Victoria during the autumn of 2002. He swept through the Blue Diamond lead-up races undefeated before justifying favouritism in the Group 1 feature at Caulfield.

BEL ESPRIT started out with a victory in the Fontaine Stakes at Moonee Valley before claiming the time-honoured Maribyrnong Plate down the Flemington straight. The feisty colt then went on to win the Gr.3 Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude at Caulfield before taking out the prestigious Group 1 for juveniles. He could only manage 5th in the 2002 Gr.1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill behind CALAWAY GAL, a race in which CHOISIR would finish in 3rd place. The ace barrier draw ended up a burden for the favourite, but after a 21 week spell the colt would return in the spring with a bang to win McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley and Gr.3 McNeil Stakes at his happy hunting ground of Caulfield.

A 2nd to SPINNING HILL in the Gr.1 Manikato would be followed by another runner-up position to PERNOD in the Gr.1 Dubai RC Cup at Caulfield and 2nd in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas to HELENUS. After failing in the Cox Plate, the three-year-old was soon put out for another break. The next two runs in the Lightning and Oakleigh Plate were particularly tough coming back after such a demanding campaign, followed by a much improved 2nd to BELLE DU JOUR in the Gr.1 Newmarket at Flemington.

BEL ESPIRT would finish 3rd in the T.J Smith returning to Randwick for only his second ever run in Sydney before going north to claim the 2003 Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 in fine style ridden by Nash Rawiller. Jockey Wayne Treloar would ride the colt in his earlier feature victories, with Damien Oliver and Rawiller both spending time on the horse. After a short spell BEL ESPRIT would have his last ever run in the Gr.1 Stradbroke, but having drawn barrier (20), stood little chance. After claiming his second Group 1 in the Doomben 10,000, he was eventually returned to stud at Eliza Park in Victoria in 2003.

Across 19 seasons at stud - spending three seasons in Queensland but predominantly in Victoria - Bel Esprit covered more than 2400 mares and became one of Australia’s most popular and enduring stallions. He achieved global recognition as the sire of BLACK CAVIAR, widely regarded as the world’s greatest sprinter. He sired 28 stakes-winners from 1,109 runners, at 2.52 per cent. Aside from Black Caviar, he’s left just two top-level winners, of one Group 1 each: 2009 SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes victor BEL MER, and 2013 The Galaxy winner, BEL SPRINTER.

After Black Caviar’s perfect 25, his next most prolific winners have been bushies - GLENTHORN AVENUE a gelding who won 19 from 93 from Terang to Gympie, and FREE BILLY, who could be spotted winning his 18 from 89 in places like Goulburn, Grafton and Goondiwindi. He sired two other million-dollar horses after Peter Moody’s wonder mare - TACTICAL ADVANTAGE - winner of 11 from 47 and $1,055,450, and BELFLYER, who won 14 from 58 and $1,009,880, with $685,000 coming in winning the inaugural running of The Kosciusko in 2018.

Bel Esprit’s progeny earned in excess of $90 million in prize-money, and his influence continues through the broodmare band. He has sired the dams of 24 stakes winners, including leading young sire OLE KIRK (Written Tycoon), who is out of a sister to Black Caviar. BEL ESPIRT retired from active stud duties in early 2022 and spent his final years enjoying a well-earned retirement.