Gr. III Prix Guillaume de Bellaigue at Vincennes

May 13, 2017 –    Veteran Tornado Bello (10m Jag de Bellouet-Enfilade) gamely surged at the line to win the Gr. III Prix Guillaume de Bellaigue (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, monte) at Paris-Vincennes.

This 3.3/1 second wagering choice, shown below, was positioned comfortably in the death seat by Camille Levesque, in a well-rated effort. Thomas Levesque trains the 17 time winner in 93 career starts for breeder/owner Remi Boucret. Tornado Bello now has career earnings of €934,480 in his final year of FR competition. Fractions were well rated (1.16kr at the 1500 meters to go mark ; 1.15.4kr with 1000 remaining ; 1.15.2kr at the 500) before Tornado and his packed competition stormed home. 2/1 Texas de l’Iton (10g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Iliada de l’Iton) was second for Matthieu Mottier, trainer Hughes Levesque and Ecurie de l’Iton. Third was 24/1 Bolide Jenilou (6g Kesaco Phedo) for Damien Bonne, ahead of Veloce de Banney and Attentionally.

On the undercard was the Prix du Mans (purse €65,000, four year olds, 2700 meters, 15 starters) and the 2.7/1 Dostoievski (4m Ganymede-Noor des Charmes) held on for a 1.13.8kr timed victory, driven by J-M Bazire, also trainer for Ecurie des Charmes, the owner/breeder. 6.3/1 Dalencia (4f Perlando-Olencia) rallied wide from the back and just missed for Pierre Vercruysse, trainer Ch. DeGroote and owner BVBA Lieven DeGroote. Third was 6.6/1 Dunbar (4m Look de Star) for David Thomain and the Bold Eagle connections, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski.

Other interesting winners at Vincennes were A Mery de Chahains (7f Password-Nuit de Plainville) in the €54,000 Prix de Viry Chatillon, reined by Matthieu Abrivard and owner/trainer Cedrik Megissier, at 2.3/1 odds and timed in 1.13.4kr. 16/1 Virgious du Maza (8g Prodigious-Pocket Edition) took the €85,000 Prix du Gatinais clocked in 1.12.1kr for trainer/driver Sebastian Ernault. And breeder/owner Ecurie du Maza. The time was sharp over the 2850 meter distance and 17 horse field.

6/1 Tessy d’Ete (5f Ganymede-Look Me Tender) won the €80,000 Prix du Perreux timed in 1.13.1kr over 2850 meters with Franck Nivard aboard. Scuderia Eurocolor Srl owns this winner, The Prix Jean Gabon for €64,000 purse went to 3/1 Al Capone Jet (7m Jag de Bellouet-Passion de Morgane) with Jean-Michel Bazire at the lines. Jean-Etienne Dubois bred this winner.

A further note from today is the maternal family of Tornado Bello, he from the prolific mare Enfilade (1992, Tarass Boulba-Tableau-Joie de Vie-Seascape Lobell-Speedy Crown–Somolli). She was winless in 16 starts but what a producer:

2002

Offshore Dream (FR)

113

0.98

1:52.4a

$ 2,595,168

48

13-

6-

8

h, by

Reve d'Udon (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

At 3, Winner of Prix Kalmia, third in Criterium des 3 ans. At 4, Winner of Criterium Continental. At 5, Winner of Prix Marcel Laurent, Europeiskt Femåringschampionat, Prix d'Amerique, second in Prix de Croix, Criterium des 5 ans, third in Prix Robert Auvray. At 6, Winner of Prix d'Amerique, second in Prix de Bourgogne. At 7, second in Grand Prix du Sud Ouest, third in Elitloppet, Criterium de Vitesse de la Côte d'Azur. Stallion available in Sweden.

2007

Tornado Bello (FR)

1:55.3

€ 934,480

58

12-

–

h, by

Jag de Bellouet (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

2005

Renardo Bello (FR)

1:55.4

$ 404,103

56

12-

–

h, by

Kiwi (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

2009

Vivaldo Bello (FR)

1:56.5

$ 212,020

36

6-

–

h, by

Love You (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

2006

Sylviana Bella (FR)

1:57.1

$ 179,493

43

6-

–

m, by

Love You (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

2008

Ursula Bella (FR)

2:00

$ 104,581

24

10-

–

m, by

Goetmals Wood (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

2010

Activa Bella (FR)

1:57.5

$ 85,701

24

5-

–

m, by

Jag de Bellouet (FR)

–

Enfilade (FR)

Second dam Tableau was also winless, in three starts, and produced only three foals including Enfilade. Third dam Seascape Lobell produced Dark Secret, an 18 time winner of US$159,000, and as second dam had 1:55 winner Cosmic Man (Enjoy Lavec) and 1:58.1 winner Summertide (Dream Vacation). Somolli was another story, a very positive one like Enfilade. Bred only to Speedy Crown she produced six winners of over US$100,000 including the Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot winner Somolli, plus Cigar Store Injun, Mae Jeans Crown, Lord of All, Harvard Yard and 24 time winner Santana Lobell. Quite a family…. and Enfilade is quite inbred by FR standards.

Thomas H. Hicks