Catapulting to the Top

By Paula Parisi March 18, 2012

Here’s something you don’t see every day. French trainer Michel Robert won the Prix GL on a piebald mare, Catapulte. The class took place March 17 at Saut Hermes, a CSI5* jumping event, March 16-18 at the au Grand Palais, Paris.

A 9-year-old Belgian Sport Horse, Robert has been bringing her along for five years. The class she won Saturday was 1.45m-1.50m and a level below the grand prix standard to which Robert is directing her training. She is one of the sale horses in his Michel Robert Stable.

By Limbo, with Fedor (Darco) on the dam’s side, Catapulte appears poised to do just that. At 17 hands, Robert describes her as “excellent, technical and very efficient [to] 1.45m. She has participated in CSI in Aachen, Dublin, Rotterdam and Chantilly. She won her first international competition, the Prix France Blue 1.45m speed class, in Bordeaux the first week in February.

In terms of Saturday’s class, it was Robert’s first win at the Gran Palais – a career high made all the sweeter in that Catapulte completed the course in 54.47, two seconds faster than the second-placed pair, Switzerland’s Janika Sprünger and JL’s Komparse (the duo that won Friday’s Prix du Grand Palais).

“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to enter her in a grand prix, but I want to wait a bit more,” Robert said.  “I want her to enjoy these classes, to win and after that we will take things a step further. I’m not in a hurry.”

Robert also said the mare’s strong color, coupled with her “strong character,” has won her a fan club following.  For those who might be wondering, a Pinto is a registered breed. Piebald is simply coloring – specifically, predominantly white coloring with black spots. (A Skewbald is a black horse with white patches.)

For complete results in the Prix GL class, click here.

See Catapulte jump in Aachen.

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