By Sean Cronin
Ado McGuinness trainee Tiger Belle (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}–Dark Acclamation {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) made a stakes breakthrough in July's Listed Marwell S. at Naas and followed up with a career high in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg to punch her ticket to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye back over ParisLongchamp's five-furlong strip on Arc weekend.
Sharply into stride to claim an immediate lead racing along the fence, the generously priced 9-1 chance poached a decisive edge with 300 metres remaining and kept on relentlessly under mild urging inside the final furlong to hold the late bid of Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) by an ultimately snug neck. Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was the same margin back in third as foreign raiders filled the first four slots home.
“The gate was a huge factor, we wanted to take advantage of that and she's toughed it out really well,” said assistant trainer Stephen Thorne. “Cristian [Demuro] is a prolific rider here in France, he came highly recommended and he's done exactly what we've asked him to do. She's a straightforward ride, she's got a lot of gate speed and we used that to her advantage. She did the job over a stiff five [furlongs] on soft ground in Naas the last day, she's added another string to her bow and it opens up more doors for her now. We have a huge bunch of owners supporting the filly here today and we're delighted. It was a big team effort to get her here in good shape, we have to work up the grades and we have her entered for the [G1 Prix de l'] Abbaye. She's not overly big, but she's got a big heart and we might be back here on Arc weekend.”
Pedigree Notes
Tiger Belle is the second of four foals and lone performer produced by a daughter of Listed Woodcote S. third On The Dark Side (Ire) (Kheleyf), herself a half-sister to G3 Select S. victor Red Badge (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}). The April-foaled bay is half to a yearling colt by Inns Of Court (Ire) and a weanling colt by Galileo Gold (GB). She hails from the family of G1 Fillies' Mile victrix Red Bloom (GB) (Selkirk), MG1SW sire Ibn Bey (GB) (Mill Reef) and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Roseate Tern (GB) (Blakeney {GB}).
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'ARENBERG-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 8-31, 2yo, 5fT, :55.61, g/s.
1–TIGER BELLE (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Cotai Glory (GB)
1st Dam: Dark Acclamation (Ire), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: On The Dark Side (Ire), by Kheleyf
3rd Dam: Red Fuschia (GB), by Polish Precedent
1ST GROUP WIN. (€18,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; £70,000 2yo '23 GOUKB; £100,000 RNA 2yo '23 GOFLON). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds; B-Paul Giles (IRE); T-Adrian McGuinness; J-Cristian Demuro. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 5-3-1-0, €90,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dawn Charger (Ire), 122, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Dushlan (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). O-Saif Mohammad Alketbi & Elaine Burke; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €16,000.
3–Graceful Thunder (GB), 122, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Glace (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€14,000 Ylg '22 GOFFEB; €68,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; £90,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-David Richard Tucker (GB); T-George Boughey. €12,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 4HF. Odds: 9.00, 8.60, 2.70.
Also Ran: Gaenari (Ire), Daiquiberry (Ire), Zorken (Fr), Grade Maker (Fr), Rare Jewel (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
