Bel Esprit, Sire of Black Caviar, Dies at 26

Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 8:05 am

23 Feb 2002: Bel Esprit #1 riden by jockey Wayne Treloar just gets past Brief Embrace #12 riden by Kerin McEvoy, to win the AAMI Blue Diamond Stakes, held at the Caulfield race track, Melbourme, Australia. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Widden Stud announced on Thursday the death of Bel Esprit, the retired sire of the global phenomenon that was Black Caviar. He was 26.

“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 Widden Stud's Adam Henry.

The son of Royal Academy won his first five starts, culminating with victory in the 2002 G1 Blue Diamond. He followed that up with a sixth-place finish in the G1 Golden Slipper, before returning as a three-year-old with two further stakes victories. He added three Group 1 placings in the spring, then placed in the G1 Newmarket Handicap before winning the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at the end of his three-year-old campaign.

Retired to stud in 2003, Bel Esprit sired 28 stakes winners, led by the unbeaten champion mare Black Caviar, as well as her fellow top-level winners Bel Mer and Bel Sprinter. As a damsire, he has 24 stakes winners, led by champion first-season sire Ole Kirk, Hong Kong Group 1 winner Beauty Generation (Road To Rock) and Group 1 winner Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago). He retired from stud duties in 2022.