Two-time Prix d’Amérique champ Idao de Tillard was no factor in Grand Prix de Wallonie
by Thomas Hedlund
The anticipated fight between Idao de Tillard and Inexess Bleu failed to materialize at a rain-soaked Mons, Belgium in the $160,000 Grand Prix de Wallonie.
Driver Alexandre Abrivard sent Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol) three-wide early, and Sébastian Ernault yielded with Josh Power, handing the lead to the favorite. Idao de Tillard, with Clément Duvaldestin, tracked in the second-over spot.
Heading down the backstretch the final time, Duvaldestin tipped Idao de Tillard three-wide and quickly ranged up to confront Inexess Bleu. But the expected showdown never came. The double Prix d’Amérique winner had no punch in the stretch, while Josh Power shot up the passing lane. Inexess Bleu held firm, winning in a mile rate of 1:56.2 for the mile-and-three-quarters distance. Idao de Tillard faded to a well-beaten third.
Inexess Bleu had reeled off nine straight wins before making a break at La Capelle in his start prior to Saturday’s race. With this rebound score, Laurent-Claude Abrivard’s gelding stamped himself as very tough to beat going forward.
STEINE SHOCKS IN NORWEGIAN DERBY WITH SOUTHBEACH VOLO
Björn Steine delivered a major upset in Sunday’s (Sept. 14) Norwegian Derby at Bjerke, capturing the $160,000 classic with Southbeach Volo, trained by Åsbjörn Tengsareid.
The Derby appeared to be a showdown between pacesetter Timestile R. and the outside favorite Nadal B.R., but the latter gave way before the top of the stretch and Timestile R. weakened late. Sitting second-over from the back, Steine launched Southbeach Volo (Bar Hopping—South Carolina) three wide entering the lane, and the colt uncorked the strongest rally of all.
Southbeach Volo surged past in the final strides to earn his second win of the season in a mile rate of 1:58.1 for the one-and-five-eighths-mile distance. Tix (E.L. Diablo B.R.) just missed and had to settle for second in the same time, while Thai Terminator (Brillantissime) took third.
“This is one of the proudest moments I’ve ever experienced,” said Tengsareid afterwards.
The maternal line of Southbeach Volo traces back to Delicious (Kimberly Kid), who earned modestly herself but produced one of the sport’s greatest mares, Delmonica Hanover (Speedy Count). A world champion and Prix d’Amérique winner, Delmonica Hanover won 52 of 124 career starts and banked more than $500,000, capturing the International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway twice after finishing as a runner-up in the Hambletonian.
CATCHAGAGA VOLO TAKES NORWEGIAN KRITERIUM
In the $140.000 Norwegian Kriterium for 3-year-olds, Catchagaga Volo (Googoo Gaagaa—Catch A Volo) could not join the early speed battle but inherited the lead without a fight after a quarter.
Driver Mats E. Djuse controlled the tempo, rolling through a hot opening quarter in :27.1 before backing down the pace to the half. In the stretch, the Erlend Rennersvik-trained filly dug in gamely and held safe to the wire, scoring in a mile rate of 2:00.3 for the one-and-five-sixteenths-mile distance.
Fast-closing Moni Elite (Maharajah) and Jokes On Me (Conlight Ås) rallied well but had to settle for second and third, respectively.
“It’s really fun to win a race of this magnitude,” said Djuse. “Around the last three-eighths I didn’t feel that confident, but she kept reaching all the way to the wire. It was a strong performance.”
