Seriously Good added his name to the mix for the G1 Caulfield Guineas when he scored an impressive win at Caulfield on Sunday.
Seriously Good (3g Bel Esprit – Bellain by Bellotto) defeated Lee Freedman’s promising galloper Smokin’ Joey by three quarters of a length. “There’s a bit more to come because he carries a fair bit of condition,” trainer Peter Morgan said. “He’s still in the Guineas and we will go that way if we can get into the field.”
Owner Bruce Mathieson paid $360,000 for the Bel Esprit gelding at the 2009 Magic Millions HIT Sale. He was originally purchased from Jonel Park for $20,000 at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale!
“He was the talk of the 2YO Sale,” Morgan recalled. “He had won a trial in Brisbane and ran a brilliant breeze up. Bruce wanted him and just kept bidding.”
Seriously Good is one of three winners produced by the winning Bellotto mare Bellain. She is a half sister to the New Zealand stakes winner Volare (Avaray) as well as the dam of Champion South African 2YO Rarotonga Treaty (Geiger Counter). Second dam Boldetta (Bold Lad) is a half sister to Champion sire Sharpen Up.
Seriously Good joins Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Macau sensation Viva Pronto as recent graduates of Washpool Lodge at the Magic Millions HIT Sale.
His sire Bel Esprit was the best of good things beaten in the 2002 Caulfield Guineas. A serious on-pace sprinter-miler, he was last in a capacity field and flew home to be beaten no more than a length by Helenus.
Bel Esprit (Royal Academy) stands at Eliza Park and has sired 173 winners at a 60% strike-rate. His black-type winner tally has reached double figures and is headed by G1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Bel Mer.