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More renowned these days as the sire of champion mare Black Caviar, it was the 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes when Bel Esprit made his mark winning his maiden Gr.1.
Nineteen years on, rider Wayne 'Smokey' Treloar joined Tuesdays with Terry to reflect on the performance of the John Symons-trained galloper who boasted an unbeaten record going into the race.
Bel Esprit had won the Blue Diamond Preview and Blue Diamond Prelude that preparation, as General Beau has done leading into Saturday's feature.
Only Sepoy in 2011 has been victorious since in winning the Preview and Prelude in the lead-up to saluting in the Blue Diamond. It is a feat only two other horses have achieved - Midnight Fever (as the only filly in 1987) and Rancher (1982).
Starting a $2 favourite on Blue Diamond Day, Treloar recalled he had some nervous moments before the start of the race aboard Bel Esprit.
A good horse he was - retiring with a second G1 in the Doomben 10,000 and more than $2 million in prizemoney.