Lilivale Stud

Breeding thoroughbreds & warmbloods in the South Burnett Region, Queensland. The horse always comes 1st.

[Political Punk @actingliketommy]

This is West Virginia. They are super excited America has its first trillionaire.

[Kristen Manning @RacingPedigrees]

Bel Esprit

[Sunny 🐴 @horsenamedsunny]

Bel Esprit, Black Caviar’s sire, has passed away.

Vale Bel Esprit 🕊️

[Racing.com @Racing]

The dual G1 winner & 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes winner has sadly passed away 🕊️

🗞️ https://t.co/HacX5uzsEo

[Breednet @BreednetNews]

Vale, Bel Esprit . https://t.co/V31dL2shjj

[BloodHorse @BloodHorse]

Bel Esprit, the influential stallion best known as the sire of unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar, has died at the age of 26. Read more: https://t.co/kiEsKS7Y5Y via @anz_news

[ANZ Bloodstock News @anz_news]

🕊️ VALE BEL ESPRIT🕊️

Retired @widdenstud stallion BEL ESPRIT, the sire of BLACK CAVIAR, has died aged 26, succumbing to the effects of old age.

"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." - Adam Henry 🗣️

[Racing Post Bloodstock @rpbloodstock]

'He's left a real legacy that will extend well beyond his passing'

Black Caviar's sire Bel Esprit dies aged 26

Read more 👉 https://t.co/FmdccJideg

[Breednet @BreednetNews]

On the eve of the 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes - the 2002 winner Bel Esprit has left the building at the age of 26.

Sire of 27 stakes winners - among them the legendary Black Caviar. And is also the sire of the dam of Ole Kirk. He left his mark!

@widdenstud

[Just Horse Racing 🏇 @justhorseracing]

Black Caviar's sire Bel Esprit dies 💔 Read more 👇

https://t.co/nq7DnlhIts

[Caroline @CaroSearcc]

Howcsad the loss of Bel Esprit @widdenstud Sire of the mighty Black Caviar and a star in his own right. Thoughts with all those closest to him ❤️🐎😔

[Kristen Manning @RacingPedigrees]

Always loved how Bel Esprit knew he was the star of the show at the Widden parades!

[Widden @widdenstud]

Vale, Bel Esprit

Sad news from Widden Stud in Victoria with the passing of much-loved veteran 26 year-old sire Bel Esprit, who has succumbed to the effects of old age after a long and fruitful stud career following his brilliant exploits on the racetrack.

The dominant Victorian juvenile in the autumn of 2002, the John Symons trained Bel Esprit stormed through the Blue Diamond lead up races undefeated to start a hot favourite in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.

Given a bold ride by Wayne Treloar, he led for home by two and kicked right away before holding off a late challenge from the filly Brief Embrace

“With the Blue Diamond to be run this Saturday, it brings back those memories of Bel Esprit and what a fantastic two year-old he was,” said Widden Victoria’s Adam Henry.

By outstanding shuttle sire Royal Academy (USA), Bel Esprit trained on to win the Group I BRC Doomben 10,000 and retired to Eliza Park in Victoria in 2003.

He was hugely popular with breeders and covered over 2400 mares in his 19 seasons at stud, the majority of them (barring three seasons in Queensland) at the Kerrie based Eliza Park, which later became Sun Stud and is now Widden Victoria.

Bel Esprit achieved immortality in siring the world’s best sprinter Black Caviar, who was one of his 28 stakes-winners.

He sired the winners of over $90million in prizemoney and sired the dams of 24 stakes-winners that include current leading young sire Ole Kirk, who is from a full sister to his champion Black Caviar.

Bel Esprit was retired from active stud duty at the start of 2022 and had been enjoying the golden years on the farm that has been his home for over 20 years.

“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,” said Adam Henry.

[⭕️Faerie ❤️ @LiquidFaerie]

This is 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a Sydney local who owns a fruit shop in Sutherland.
The father-of-two was shot twice during the unbelievable act of heroism in Bondi today.

[Lilivale Stud @LilivaleStud]

@stationmum101 Almost booked in there recently, so good to know!

[Lilivale Stud @LilivaleStud]

@RacingVictoria @mj_payne @TheValley @Racing__Photos Well done!

[Racing Victoria @RacingVictoria]

😀 That feeling when you ride your 1st city winner for your racing idol @mj_payne

Congrats Rose! 🥇🏇👊🌆

[Lilivale Stud @LilivaleStud]

@Bradmac120970 @DonaMcqueen Just like when women weren’t even allowed to be jockeys at all, is that what you mean?
Poor guy.

[Aussie Exracehorses @aus_exracehorse]

Globetrotting multiple Group 1 winning racehorse MANIGHAR is now 18 years old and in the great care of @timwoolleyracin in the USA. Here he is leading the young racehorses around in his Grinch outfit.
#ottb #offthetrack #retiredracehorse

[Caroline @CaroSearcc]

Oh my heart! A privilege to cuddle the 7 time G1 winning NZ superstar Seachange! Grand dam of star colt Storm Boy @coolmorestud @GaiWaterhouse1 @Ballydoyle Thanks team @PencarrowStud 👍See another grand foal in our @KarakaChat NZB Yearling Preview Mon Jan 13 @SkyRacingAU ❤️🐎