Pépinvast 4yo Hurdle: Ine Anjou makes her move

April 9, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - With Kyrov out today, Hawai du Berlais (Martaline) was once again the favourite in this Pépinvast 4-year-olds' Hurdle (Gr3), three weeks after her first defeat.

It is another filly, however, named Ine Anjou (Balko), who took the lead early, accelerated going into the last straight and made a winning return impossible for the favourite. Ridden by Olivier Jouin and trained by Mathias Solier, she was carrying 4lbs less than Hawai du Berlais and kept half a length on the post. Golden Son (Martaline) once again finished well in third, over three lengths behind the two fillies.

It was Ine Anjou's 4th race only, the second this term after being beaten by the one and only You’re the Boss in the Ventriloque Hurdle race on her return. The winner hadn't let her play it her way then. Since then You’re the Boss too fought one better, L’Eau du Sud, who was receiving 4lbs. All that to point out that the rankings are still pretty confused in the wake of the prince Kyrov.

Ine Anjou was bred by Gildas Vaillant, who lezsed her to Mustang SARL. He also bred the great chasing mare Princesse d’Anjou. Ine Anjou's dam, however, was bred by the Vuillard family, who named her Line Garry (Ballingarry), out of the champion mare Line Marine (Agent Bleu), a Grand Steeple winner. Line Garry never ran but she's already given Saint Anjou (Saint des Saints), winner of 8 races, mostly handicaps over hurdles and chasing.

Since Ine Anjou, the dam foaled her full brother in 2020, and a Goliath du Berlais filly in 2021.