Racing: Cup victory golden moment for Bell

Sam Weatherley with Gentil Tonton. Photo / NZ Racing desk

You'd be wasting your time asking John Bell how he came to own Saturday's $65,000 Taumarunui Gold Cup winner Gentil Tonton.

"I actually have no idea," Bell said yesterday as he celebrated a win he regards as the most satisfying of his career.

The Irish bred Gentil Tonton began his career in his homeland before being transferred to Hong Kong trainer Gary Moore. He remained in his Asian ownership when transferred to Waikato trainers Trevor and Martin Cruz.

From there he went to Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott's Matamata stable before John Bell received a message from Hong Kong. "It said, Gentil Tonton to be transferred to John Bell. No explanation and I didn't ask any questions.

"I knew the horse from when Martin and Trevor had him here at Cambridge. I'd always admired him as a beautiful animal. He looks like a sprinter, but the work he was doing quickly showed he was a stayer." Gentil Tonton's film star looks were not matched by his temperament.

"You would approach him at the tie-ups and he'd have his teeth bared and his ears back.

"We showered him with love and attention. We give him lots of cuddles and hugs and he loves it. He can still bare his teeth, but I think he does it now just so he can get another cuddle.

"Also, we changed his gear. He used to wear a tongue tie, blinkers and a nose band and we took it all off him. He doesn't like being boxed up, which sort of explains why he didn't settle into Hong Kong that well."

Gentil Tonton's major success was one of apprentice Sam Weatherley's winning treble on Saturday. "Sam knew the horse from when he was at his stable and when he knew we had received the horse he called me for the ride. A fair while back he told me he would win this race."