By Tom Frary
Winless since capturing the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 12 months ago, Nurlan Bizakov's Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) thrived back on a deep surface to sign off with a win in Sunday's G3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud. Showing he retained his ability when third in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Arc Saturday, the Andre Fabre trainee was kept fresh in the interim and raced a touch freely early anchored in fourth against the rail by Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.
One of five who stayed far side swinging for home, the 4-1 shot subdued stablemate Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) passing two out and kept on to secure the success by half a length from the stand's-side group's “winner” The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the 9-10 favourite Tribalist wound up two lengths further away in third.
Bizakov and Sumbe's racing manager Mathieu Le Forestier revealed that Belbek is off to the Stud now. “He's been unlucky at times and it's lovely that he bows out with a thrilling win,” he said. “He was our first group 1-winning homebred and is the first Showcasing and first stallion from the Hasili line to stand in France. Hats off to Andre, as he instructed his jockeys to stay on the inside rail even though all the races so far had been won on the stand's side–it was the right decision.”
Split across the track! Former Group 1 star Belbek is back to winning ways in the Group 3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud, with old favourite The Revenant second… pic.twitter.com/nez5u9ayjw
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 22, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Belbek, whose record also includes a win in the six-furlong G3 Prix du Bois at two, is the second foal out of Bee Queen (GB) (Makfi {GB}) who was an inspired purchase at just 50,000gns from Juddmonte's draft in the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. A daughter of Trojan Queen (Empire Maker), she is therefore a half-sister to the talented G3 Hampton Court S. winner Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial-placed stakes producer Emergent (GB) by Showcasing's sire Oasis Dream (GB).
Trojan Queen is a daughter of Fabre's triple top-level-winning champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), who produced the G1 Prix Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual listed scorer and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Ideal World (Kingmambo). As Le Forestier pointed out, the fourth dam is the legendary producer Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), responsible for so many of Juddmonte's stars including the GI Beverly D. S. winner Heat Haze (GB) by Oasis Dream's sire Green Desert. Bee Queen's unraced 2-year-old colt Baysangur (Fr) is by Gleneagles (Ire).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX PERTH-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:43.93, vs.
1–BELBEK (FR), 123, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker
3rd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill
O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 12-4-0-2, €385,863. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Revenant (GB), 127, g, 8, Dubawi (Ire)–Hazel Lavery (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000.
3–Tribalist (GB), 129, c, 4, Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (130,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.30, 5.60, 0.90.
Also Ran: Anthorus (Fr), Gregarina (Fr), American Flag (Fr), Arnis Master (Ger), Miramis (Ire), Nano Nagle (Ire), Foniska (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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