Belle sparks more Peintre celebrations

19th May 2008

Peintre Celebre sired his latest G1 winner in Paris on Sunday when the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Belle Et Celebre (3f Peintre Celebre-Rotina, by Crystal Glitters) won the G1 Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp.

The Peintre Celebre filly, who was home-bred by Aliette and Gilles Forien, made all the running in the 10-furlong contest under jockey Christophe Lemaire and came home three-quarters of a length clear of Gagnoa (3f Sadler’s Wells-Gwynn, by Darshaan).

"She settled well in front and her jockey’s tactics were perfect. Our only option now is to run her in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks). Although she was an outsider, she had been working well with my best fillies at home," de Royer Dupre told the Racing Post.

"This was a double victory for me. I not only train the filly but she is owned and bred by my great friends Aliette and Gilles Forien. They were people who have always stood by me in difficult times, when I was a little out of fashion."

Gagnoa, who is trained by Andre Fabre for Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Sue Magnier, will bid to give the recently retired Sadler’s Wells another classic success.

"We were very pleased with the way Gagnoa went but she did pull early on," said Coolmore’s Christy Grassick. "We have not ruled out the G1 Oaks at Epsom, but our big target is the G1 Irish Oaks in July."