7 April 2018
Photo scoopdyga.com
6yo mare Perfect Impulse (Poliglote) won her hurdling comeback in the Prix Jean Doumen at Auteuil and didn't fail for her chasing seasonal bow in the Prix Murat Chase (Gr2), and thus becomes the only female winner of the Auteuil classic since at least 1999.
Trained in Royan by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, whose co-owns the mare with vet and co-breeder Richard Corveller, Perfect Impulse led all the way and finally took off as her two main rival Milord Thomas (Kapgarde) and Bipolaire (Fragrant Mix) were fighting with a tough Roi Mage (Poliglote) for the second place, six lengths behind the winner.
Second to So French (Poliglote) in the Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris (Gr1) last year and third in November to ... Bipolaire and Milord Thomas in the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Gr1), Perfect Impulse is definitely one of t the country's leading chaser and she will probably try to go one place further on May 20 in the big race.
The other Group race of the evening at Auteuil, the Prix de Pepinvast 4yo Hurdle (Gr3) was expected to become a duel between two horses trained by Guillaume Macaire, Master Dino (Doctor Dino) and Tunis (Estejo), who'd just finished first and second in the Prix d'Indy 4yo Hurdle (Gr3). Yet those two couldn't keep up with the filly 8/1 Wildriver (Willywell), who fled in the back straight and was never seen again, winning by 8 lengths. Tunis finished well in second, well in front of Master Dino this time.
The thoroughbred filly was bred in Saone-et-Loire by Raymond Bietola and leased to Marc Pimbonnet, a trainer based near Lyon, and Jean-François Anthore. Yet the filly was sent to a young trainer, Mathieu Pitart, last Summer after four failed attempt over the flat with Pimbonnet. She won first time out in December over hurdles at Cagnes, fell for her second time out, won again there and finally did this for her debut at Auteuil against the very best of her generation. Wildriver provided Pitart with his first runner, his first winner and his first Group winner!