Bold Eagle wins Prix de Belgique

January 17, 2016 – Bold Eagle (5m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) followed pacesetters third on the outer before making a four wide move off the final bend to score decisively in the Gr. II International Prix de Belgique (purse €120,000, 2850 meters, 16 starters) for harness racing driver Franck Nivard, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski.

Bold Eagle was timed in 1.13.6kr in this three length victory, his sixth straight to increase career earnings to €1,051,800.

The winner was off as the 0.5/1 prohibitive favorite. 9/1 Voltigeur de Myrt (7m Opus Viervil-Myrtille des Bois) was second for Gabriel Gelormini, trainer Roberto Donati and Ecurie Donati. Third went to 35/1 Oasis Bi (8m Toss Out-Up Front JM-Self Possessed) reined by Bjorn Goop for trainer Stefan Pettersson. Un Mec d’Heripre (8m Orlandi Vici-I Love You Darling) was fourth driven by Roberto Andreghetti with fifth to Bird Parker (5m Ready Cash-Belisha) teamed by Yoann Lebourgeois for trainer Philippe Allaire. El Mago Pellini, Amiral Sacha, Kadett CD and Support Justice were disqualified to miscues. Amiral Sacha and Support Justice raced near the lead most of the way before going off-stride late.

Bold Eagle today defeated a solid field and likely established a favorite’s role in the Prix d’Amerique. He clearly showed patience behind the leaders showed his class by out-sprinting the group in the stretch.

Stretch replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Y0LLd–0g

Nivard Wins Four on Belgique Card at Vincennes

Franck Nivard won the Prix de Belgique today with Bold Eagle and then scored three more victories with Capone Face, Diva Mouchel and Trinity Jiel on the top-flight program at Vincennes.

Capone Face (4m Ready Cash-Kingly Pride) recorded victory in the Gr. III Prix des 20 Ans de l’Association National des Turfistes (purse €78,000, 2100 meters autostart) for driver Franck Nivard, trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Antonio De Sousa. Timed in 1.13.1kr this winner was off at 8.8/ and bested 7/10 favorite Cap Matyss (4m Love You-Ode Matyss) driven by J-M Bazire for trainer Leblanc. Third was 12.5/1 Cirantana (4f Jam Pridem-Kamistie Jet) for trainer/driver Romain Derieux and owner De Sousa.

Stretch replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW5qiI6nOI4

The Gr. II Prix Gelinotte (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, 10 starters) went to 16/1 outsider

Diva du Mouchel (3f The Best Madrik-Perle du Mouchel) reined by Franck Nivard for trainer Franck Leblanc, Timed in a slow 1.20.8kr off even slower fractions, this winner defeated 7/2 odds Don’t Explain (3f Prodigious-Quarmen du Gite) driven by Mathieu Abrivard for trainer Philippe Allaire. 1.3/1 favorite Danse d’Etang (3f Un Amour d’Haufor-Rumba d’Etang) tasted a first defeat after four wins for trainer/driver Christian Bigeon. 4.3/1 Demonia Roma (3f Password-Rome To Paris) closed for fourth driven by J-Ph Monclin, nosing out Allaire stablemate Deep Purple (3f Prodigious-Ornella Rainbow) reined by Pierre Vercruysse.

Replay: http://www.paris-turf.com/paristurftv/prix-gelinotte-diva-du-mouchel-cree-la-surprise-117634

Vaillant Cash (7m Offshore Dream-Kara du Redon) scored in the Gr. II Prix Djerid (purse €110,000, 2200 meters, 13 monte starters) timed I  1.12.kr for a four length margin. Clement Frecelle was in the irons for trainer Yves Letellier and the winner now has career earnings €390,950. Udayama (8f Echo-Lancai du Pont) took second for trainer/jockey Loic Groussard in a three way photo over third finishing Orione Degli Dei (8g Conway Hall-Elissa Dei) with Damien Bonne up for trainer Fabrice Souloy and fourth placed Nonant le Pin (9f Goetmals Wood-Blazing Janice-Pine Chip) with Eric Raffin up for trainer Mlle. Stephan Lepetit. Rue du Bac, Rocky Winner and Torre Crepin were disqualified.

Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1k2LXhje2k

Other interesting winners on the Belgique undercard included the following:

• Umbrella de Chenu (8f Meaulnes du Corta-Nina de Chenu) for Nils Pacha in the €48,000 Prix de Chatelaillon-La Rochelle timed in 1.15.7kr
• Bel Canto (5m Lilium Madrik-Nausicaa Sautonne) for Yoann Lebourgeois and owner Jean-Pierre Viel timed in 1.13kr in the monte Prix de la Federation National des Turfistes over 2175 meters for a purse of €46,000
• Vacate Money (7f Prodigious-Making Money) for Jean-Philippe Dubois and Ecurie Victoria Dreams timed in 1.13.6kr to win the Prix Ecurie RMC (purse €78,000, 2850 meters), her fifth win in the last ten starts plus four times second
• Trinity Jiel (9f Goetmals Wood-Flaya de Jiel) scored in 1.13.7kr in the Prix du Jura (purse €75,000, 2100 meters autostart) for Franck Nivard, trainer J.L. Dersoir and Ecurie Luick
• Bea Ecus (5f Quick Wood-Iffrida) took the €45,000 purse Prix de Machecoul over 2100 meters autostart timed in 1.14.3kr for owner/trainer/driver Marku Vartainen, her fourth victory in the last ten outings, also with a second and two thirds.

Thomas H. Hicks