Puchkine, whose juvenile campaign consisted of successful forays to La Teste, this track and Pau, was re-entering the scene in a five-runner affair over a mile and was keen anchored last of the quintet by Jean-Bernard Eyquem early. Quickening out wide to take control 300 metres from the line, the 2-5 favourite who holds entries in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club drew away in impressive fashion to extend his tally by 3 1/2 lengths from Denisjonh (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}).

Rouget was on hand to witness the display and told Equidia, “He was fresh, but also a little bit tense, so this is encouraging. It wouldn't have been a big deal if he had been beaten today, because he was making his comeback. It's going to be a long season. The goal is to run the Poule d'Essai and before that, he will run the [Apr. 21 Listed] Prix Aymeri de Mauléon, as we can't let him go two months without racing. He has a lot of speed and I don't think he'll stay 2100 metres.”

 Puchkine, who becomes the fifth TDN Rising Star for Starspangledbanner alongside the G1 Cheveley Park S. runner-up Flotus (Ire), is out of an unraced half-sister to the Listed Diana-Trial winner Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). She is a daughter of Rockatella (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was a listed winner placed three times in pattern races including the G3 Prix de Lieurey. Descended from Meon Valley's great Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}), whose latest flagbearer was last year's G3 Hoppings S. winner and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), she is also responsible for the listed-placed filly Slevka (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}). Her 2-year-old colt by Fas (Ire) is named Zvokokiev (Fr).

4th-Toulouse, €30,000, Cond, 3-20, 3yo, 8fT, 1:37.60, sf.

Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €53,500. O/B-Alain Jathiere (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.