3 minute read

Run of the Week (Trotting).

Race 1 - PRIX DE LA SAINT-VALENTIN

The well-bred four-year-old made her reappearance in a class E walk-up event at Nantes at the end of January where she went to destroy the opposition by seven-lengths. Halicia Bella remained unbeaten when taking her record to five from five in an auto-start class D contest over 2725m at Graignes on Wednesday. 

The Jean-Paul Marmion trained daughter of Bold Eagle sat fourth off the pace under driver Antoine Wiels before moving into contention easily just past the 1000m stage. The result never looked in doubt from that stage onwards as the pair controlled the race and she quickened up smartly turning for home, ultimately running out a ready three-length winner.

It is brilliant to see Haras Des Trotteurs' stallion and champion French performer Bold Eagle make such an excellent start to his career at stud. Bold Eagle first tasted G1 track success in 2014 but it was not until 2017 that he announced himself as one of the all-time greatest trotter-francais breed. He became the first horse to land the G1 Prix d'Amerique (2700m), G1 Grand Prix de France (2100m) and G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4125m) at Vincennes and in so doing became the first French trotting triple crown champion since Bellino II in 1976. The world-class son of Ready Cash already looks to have stamped plenty of quality on his progeny so far with stand-out performers including the recent G2 Prix Bold Eagle (2100m) winner Aetos Kronos.

It should be noted that the dam Talicia Bella, also trained by Jean-Paul Marmion was a talented individual in her own right. The twenty-time winner was successful in the 2013 G3 Grand Prix De Noel (2150m) and finished third in the 2015 renewal of the G1 Prix De Cornulier (2700m).

There is no reason to believe the regally bred Jean-Paul Marmion four-year-old filly cannot continue to rise through the ranks as she begins to step up in grade.