Belbek surprises in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Oct 02, 2022
Nurlan Bizakov’s homebred Belbek sprang an 18-1 surprise in Sunday’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), the opener on a banner Arc Day at ParisLongchamp. The longest shot on the board after being beaten in his past two stakes appearances, the Andre Fabre trainee stepped up on the stretch-out to about seven furlongs.
With the scratch of early favorite The Antarctic, fellow Irish shipper Shartash was bet down to even-money. But he lacked his usual punch when trying to rally on the outside and wound up fourth.
Belbek, on the other hand, picked up strongly from off the pace. New rider Mickael Barzalona reserved the French-bred colt about midpack in the seven-horse field early. Vicious Harray sped to the early lead, tracked by Pivotal Trigger, until Gamestop drove through in a good-looking bid to the inside. Then Belbek lengthened stride and collared Gamestop by a neck in a final time of 1:22.98.
Breizh Sky closed late between them to finish third, a neck behind Gamestop. Next came Shartash; Vicious Harray; the filly Tigrais, who stumbled coming out of the gate; and Pivotal Trigger.
The top five finishers earned points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, on the 10-4-3-2-1 scale. The Lagardere is also a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), so Belbek has a free ticket to Keeneland.
Belbek has now won three of six starts, including the June 19 Prix du Bois (G3) at Chantilly. The bay regressed to fourth in the Prix Robert Papin (G2) and fifth in the Prix de Cabourg (G3), both times several lengths behind The Antarctic. Belbek turned in a much stronger effort going a furlong longer on very soft going here, conditions that might not have suited The Antarctic as well.
By Showcasing, Belbek is out of a Makfi mare descending from transatlantic champion Banks Hill, heroine of the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Thus this is the all-star family of Dansili, Cacique, Intercontinental, and Champs Elysees.
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