Bel Esprit, the influential stallion best known as the sire of unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar, has died at the age of 26.
Widden Stud announced Feb. 19 that the son of Royal Academy had succumbed to the effects of old age.
The announcement of his death comes days before the Blue Diamond Stakes (G1)—a race Bel Esprit famously won 24 years ago.
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 favoritism in the group 1 feature at Caulfield.
"With the Blue Diamond to be run this Saturday, it brings back those memories of Bel Esprit and what a fantastic 2-year-old he was," said Adam Henry of Widden Victoria.
By outstanding shuttle sire Royal Academy, Bel Esprit trained on to claim the 2003 Doomben Ten Thousand (G1) before retiring to stud at Eliza Park in Victoria in 2003. The Kerrie property later became Sun Stud and now operates as Widden Victoria.
Royal Academy, who won the 1990 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), was bred in Kentucky by Tom Gentry and purchased by M.V. O'Brien for $3.5 million as a yearling at the 1988 Keeneland July Yearling Sale. Royal Academy comes from a regally bred family; his dam, Crimson Saint, was a grade 3 winner, making him a half brother to grade 2 winner and sire Pancho Villa, and grade 2 winner Terlingua, dam of the legendary Storm Cat.
Across 19 seasons at stud, spending three seasons in Queensland but predominantly in Victoria, Bel Esprit covered more than 2,400 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. She was one of his 28 stakes winners.
Black Caviar won all 25 of her career starts, 15 of them coming in group 1 races. She was crowned the European champion sprinter in 2012, and was ranked the World's Best Racehorse in 2013. She won many champion sprinter titles and was named Australian Horse of the Year in 2011-13.
Black Caviar earned more than AU$7.5 million during her career. She succumbed to laminitis in 2024, at the age of 18.
Bel Esprit's progeny earned in excess of AU$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, who is out of a sister to Black Caviar, and Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation.
Retired from active stud duties in early 2022, Bel Esprit spent his final years enjoying a well-earned retirement.
Henry continued: "Bel Esprit has left a real legacy that will extend well beyond his passing, and it has been a privilege to have him in our care."
