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Seven Days: Churchill’s Brightest Hour

Seven years ago Churchill (Ire) beat Mehmas (Ire) in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., and they both now feature prominently in their second careers at stud.

For Mehmas, that's nothing new. He was champion first-season sire, then leading second-season sire, and he gave way only to New Bay (GB) last year among his generation. Now with his fourth crop of runners taking to the track, the Tally-Ho Stud resident is back in front among his intake with four group winners to his credit so far this year, including the GI Maker's Mark Mile winner Chez Pierre (Fr). He was also responsible for the latest TDN Rising Star in Europe, Sunday's 12-length debut winner Asadna (Ire).

Churchill retired a year later after winning the 2,000 Guineas in England and Ireland. His rise was a little slower, but not by much. Finishing sixth among the freshmen of his year, he was the leading second-crop sire in Europe last year ahead of Zarak (Fr), and those two currently occupy the same two slots among this season's third-crop sires, with Churchill hovering just outside the top ten on the general sires' list.

While his first crop was highlighted by the Aga Khan's champion three-year-old colt Vadeni (Fr), winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse, as well as finishing runner-up in the Arc, his second has no less a potential star in Blue Rose Cen (Fr). The Yeguada Centurion homebred added the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches to her first Group 1 win in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

This week, that leading pair has been backed up by the exploits of G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes (Ire), who, like the Jessica Harrington-trained Leopardstown Group 3 winner Sprewell (Ire), is now full steam ahead for Epsom.

Harrington also took Friday's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. with Churchill four-year-old Yashin (Ire), who could be Melbourne Cup-bound come autumn, while the stallion's versatility was on display when Ladies Church (GB) won the Listed Sole Power Sprint S. for Johnny Murtagh. This was added to her victory in last year's G2 Sapphire S. and sets her on course for a Group 1 tilt at Royal Ascot. And let's not forget, for 'tis no disgrace, that he has also sired a couple of Grade 2 winners over hurdles in Comfort Zone (Ire) and Scriptwriter (Ire).

In short, Churchill is compiling an impressively rounded portfolio of smart performers, and a Derby winner would push him yet another rung higher on the ladder.

Tanaghum Just Too Dam Good

Barronstown Stud's Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) deserves all the plaudits as an increasingly significant broodmare. A €250,000 purchase by David Nagle in 2014 from her breeder Shadwell, the daughter of the 1,000 Guineas winner Mehthaaf was already 14 by then and, though she had five winners to her credit, only two had earned black type, headed by G3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells).

A snapshot of her page would look rather different now. The Raven's Pass foal she was carrying at Goffs became the nine-time winner Matterhorn (Ire), who claimed the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge in 2020. Then came Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose six victories include the G2 York S., and who is now standing at Chapel Stud. Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was two when her mother was sold, won the following year's Listed Prix Joubert, while current four-year-old Perotan (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) won Her Majesty's Plate, a Listed contest at Down Royal, in 2022. Her full-brother The Foxes, who was sold to King Power Racing for 440,000gns as a yearling, looks even better, and the dual Group 2 winner is now third-favourite for the Derby.

While Tanaghum may be one who got away, Shadwell will be taking increasing encouragement from the exploits of Listed winner Handassa (GB). The 14-year-old daughter of Dubawi (Ire) is already the dam of dual Group 1 winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and four-time Group 3 winner Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and her three-year-old son Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was an impressive winner at York last week. He will surely be seen back in stakes company soon after reportedly not enjoying the easier ground he encountered in the G3 Craven S. on just the second run of his life. Like his elder half-brother Mostahdaf, Mostabhir holds a Group 1 entry for Royal Ascot.

We must, too, acknowledge Darley's Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), for though her son Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was already a multiple Group/Grade 1 winner, his latest success in the Lockinge S. brings his number of top-flight wins to five in four different countries. The mare's three-year-old daughter Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is now a Classic heroine who has won five of her eight starts, including the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., and Modern News (GB), who completes the trifecta of Darley stallions by being a son of Shamardal, counts a Listed victory among his six wins.

Azure Blue on Fast Track to the Top

“I found her on a rainy night at Book 3 in Harry Dutfield's.” It may not quite make the grade for an opening line to a Raymond Chandler novel, but it is poetic enough when describing the origin of the current rising star of the sprint ranks.

That memorable line was uttered by David Appleton, who passes the credit to his father Peter, co-owner of the G2 Duke of York Clipper S. winner Azure Blue (Ire) with Anne Elliott, the mother of bloodstock agent Alex Elliott.

Peter Appleton understandably had a spring in his step on the Knavesmire last week when reflecting on the impressive progress of their four-year-old daughter of El Kabeir. Bred by Debbie Kitchen and Mary Davison, Azure Blue was pinhooked as a foal by Harry Dutfield for €19,000 and then bought by her trainer Michael Dods for the partnership at 47,000gns after being spotted by David Appleton, a member of the Darley nominations team.

“Book 3 has been good to us,” said Peter Appleton, who, with his wife Linda and Anne Elliott, also raced the Listed winner Que Amoro (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}), who was only a length behind Battaash (Ire) when second in the G1 Nunthorpe S. Picked up for 28,000gns as a yearling, the five-time winner subsequently sold for 220,000gns at the December Mares' Sale. Then there was the treble winner Arcavallo (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}).

“And he finished second, beaten a neck in the £150,000 sales race at Newmarket. He was bought for ten grand,” Appleton added. “David helps out, but we do the hard yards, myself and Linda. It's not easy to find one, but I quite like to look at the offspring of first-season stallions and unraced mares, because you can buy them.”

While Appleton has been involved in racing for long enough to admit that there is no specific winning formula, just “lots of luck”, he is quick to attribute must of their success to the patience of Dods.

“Michael is quite reserved, but he likes to see a horse progress. She's always had a lot of potential,” he said of Azure Blue, whose seven wins include back-to-back Listed wins on the Rowley Mile, spaced over last October and this May, followed by her first group-level win at York.

“We were keen to get a win into her as a two-year-old,” he continued. “But she's a big filly, she's over 500 kilograms, and she didn't win until November. Michael is quite keen to look at what might happen if the ground went soft at Ascot, but I'm pretty relaxed about it, because there's plenty of races.”

Based in Durham, not far from their trainer, the Appletons ceased being breeders several years ago and Peter said that he would not be tempted back to the fold, even by a potential broodmare as smart as Azure Blue.

“We'll let somebody else do that,” he said. “I have picked up a few foals to pinhook, to just keep dipping in and doing bits and pieces.”

He is also full of praise for Paul Mulrennan, who has ridden Azure Blue in most of her races.

“He's a proper pilot; proper pilot,” said Appleton. “I mean, he got off her, first race as a three-year-old, when she was beaten here [at York] in the handicap. She was rated 78 or something like that, and he said, 'This is a proper group filly'.”

Mulrennan wasn't wrong, and Azure Blue looks like she has plenty left to give. It will also be worth trawling the results of Tattersalls October Book 3 later this year to discover what budding young talent may be heading to the Dods stable for the Appleton/Elliott partnership.

Finding his Calling

Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) is the latest of the young stallions to be zipping up the charts. In what seems like no time at all, he's gone straight to the top when it comes to number of winners, with a smart Saturday double bringing that tally to eight.

He is also the first to have a black-type performer to his name in the Listed Marygate Fillies' S. runner-up Dorothy Lawrence (GB). Homebred by Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics, the young filly is also well named as the real Dorothy Lawrence was a journalist who, prevented from reporting from the front line because she was a woman, dressed as a male soldier and spent some time serving in the trenches in the Somme. Such bravery is deserving at the very least of a decent namesake.

The aforementioned Book 3 sale was also the source of the first winner for Lanwades Stud's Study Of Man (Ire). The colt in question, Deepone (GB), was bought for 62,000gns by his trainer Paddy Twomey and now races in the colours of Vimal Khosla. He hails from the same family as last year's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who had been favourite for Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas until being ruled out of the race on Monday by Joseph O'Brien.

Deepone's second dam is the G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), and his unraced dam Avyanna (Ire) is by Galileo (Ire). It was perhaps a surprise to see him ready so early but he relished the 7.5f test, finishing strongly, and is one to follow with interest.

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Seven Days: A Pedigree Nutcase in Paris

There is something wonderfully refreshing about John Hayes. He stands at least 6'6” tall with size 15 'lucky boots' and a towering personality to match. Prior to watching Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the filly he bred from his beloved mare Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), win the G1 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica Prix Saint-Alary, he serenaded guests of her owner Al Shira'aa Farms with a ditty about a cross-dressing gold-digger.

It's the kind of theme that could so easily see people cancelled these days, but there could be no erasing of Hayes's enthusiasm for the game. A small breeder with two mares in Co Tipperary, he is a self-confessed “pedigree nutcase” who claims to know nothing of conformation. He can rest assured that he has bred a pretty special animal in the unbeaten Jannah Rose, who meets all criteria in that important triumvirate of pedigree, physique and performance.

Hayes spent the flight from Dublin to Paris reading up on Chelandry (GB), Lord Rosebery's 1,000 Guineas winner and Oaks runner-up of 1897, from whom has sprung the likes of Lester's Piggott's first Derby winner Never Say Die, as well as the great High Chaparral (Ire), dual Classic winner Ravinella, and the Kentucky Derby heroes Tomy Lee, Genuine Risk, and Swale. Chelandry is Jannah Rose's 10th dam. This is deep-state research, reserved for pedigree lovers/nutcases (take your pick).

In the aftermath of Jannah Rose's imperious win, Hayes said of her dam, “Her first foal, [Group 2 winner] Creggs Pipes, was winning lots of races while my sister was dying from cancer, so it gave my sister some relief. Today is my mother-in-law's anniversary; she is looking down on us today, I know that.”

He added, “I'm a dairy farmer, and I wouldn't know the difference between a good-looking horse and a bad-looking horse. I don't know anything about conformation but I'm a complete nutcase for pedigrees.

“It's a big responsibility having a mare like that. It's all about the mare. That's all I have to do: do the right thing by her. We love her dearly, she's the boss. She's in foal to Kingman now and Shane [Horan] said, 'Next year, Frankel'.”

With Jannah Rose becoming Frankel's 27th Group 1 winner, Sophie Germain is now a deserved shoo-in for a return to his court. In the meantime, the 16-year-old mare will be eating from some pretty fancy tableware. Brandishing the silver salver he was presented with as winning breeder, Hayes added, “I'm going to take this home and put nuts on it for Sophie.”

Hayes had travelled to Longchamp with Kieran Lalor, who in January had spoken in TDN of his hopes for the then-maiden winner Jannah Rose to continue the solid start made by Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Shira'aa Farms. Abu Dhabi-owned, it has its headquarters at the Curragh-based property formerly known as Meadow Court Stud. Those hopes have now been realised, with the statuesque filly having remained faultless in winning the G3 Prix Vanteaux en route to her Group 1 success.

Hayes said on Sunday, “I'm delighted for Kieran in particular, that his judgement has been vindicated. It's a big decision to make to advise somebody to spend €650,000 on a yearling. He's the one who should take the credit.”

Lalor himself had been quick to praise the breeder. “Coming from an operation, a pedigree guru like John, the foundation is all there,” he said. “She's an absolutely lovely filly, the biggest heart I've ever seen. I'm delighted for the boss, and it's an absolute pleasure to be a part of this journey. I personally think her 4-year-old career will be even better.”

He continued, “I always go back to the day I saw her at Goffs. I've never fallen for a horse like I fell for her. Everything about her was as cool as a breeze.

“The most important thing is the breeder, as it's the hardest thing in the world to breed a filly like that, and that's what we want to do.”

Back at the farm, Al Shira'aa already has in its paddocks another daughter of Frankel, the Group 2 winner Rumi (Fr), who was also trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias. The trainer usually gives himself a special treat each Sunday by riding Jannah Rose. This week he left the job to supersub Christophe Soumillon.

“She always showed me she was good, but between good and Group 1 is a big step,” said Laffon-Parias. Now he knows, and the next stop is Chantilly.

“That's the target, the Prix de Diane,” he confirmed.

Next Run for the Roses

In the Diane, Jannah Rose will meet the other female star of Sunday at Longchamp, the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). She also represents an up-and-coming breeding operation, this one the Spanish-owned Yeguada Centurion.

The man behind it, Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, has put his faith in some young members of the French racing and breeding scene to fulfil his dreams and they are making a damn good fist of it. In the winner's circle after the race, Blue Rose Cen's trainer Christopher Head chatted with Guillaume Garcon of Haras de l'Hotellerie, who is entrusted with boarding the Yeguada Centurion mares. Despite demonstrating a little more Gallic cool than our Irish friends, the delight on their faces was plain to see.

Garcon said of Blue Rose Cen's dam Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy), “She will return soon from Coolmore and she is back in foal to Churchill–of course! We love Churchill, we've sent him lots of mares.”

He boards 30 mares for the same owner-breeder, including Hardiyna (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the sister to dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) and dam of Prix du Jockey Club favourite Big Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who is also trained by Head.

“Both mares were bought quite inexpensively and it is wonderful to see him have this success,” Garcon noted.

When your surname is Head, there's a fair chance that the racing world will sit up and take notice. Christopher Head is the son of legendary former jockey and trainer Freddy, and is the cousin of Patricia Laffon-Parias, the wife of Jannah Rose's trainer. He would certainly not have struggled to have broken into this sphere, but nevertheless he started his training business in modest circumstances. When TDN first encountered Head four years ago, he was sweeping the yard outside the handful of boxes he rented in Chantilly from Pascal Bary.

“I still sweep the yard,” he said on Sunday. Now, however, it is the yard vacated by his father on his retirement and bought by Christopher earlier this year.

Blue Rose Cen, his first Group 1 winner last season in the Prix Marcel Boussac, is now his first Classic winner, as she was for jockey Aurelien Lemaitre. It would be no surprise to see her stablemate Big Rock become their second on June 4.

Marching Orders for Epsom

Not since Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee, in 1896 and 1900, have full-brothers won the Derby. At Lingfield on Saturday, a tantalising prospect was suggested by Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) that he could follow his brother Adayar (Ire) to Epsom after winning the Fitzdares Lingfield Derby Trial.

His success brought up a trial double for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby after Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who only made her debut on February 13, took the Oaks Trial.

Adayar was only second in the Lingfield Derby Trial two years ago but his early career took a similar path to his younger brother, with two runs as a juvenile at the back end of the season before a seasonal resumption at the end of April.

Military Order now shares the top spot in the Derby betting with Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Not far behind them is Arrest (Ire), bred by Des Leadon and Mariann Klay at Swordlestown Little, who sparked a fine week for Frankel when winning the G3 Chester Vase by more than six lengths. Juddmonte's star stallion has already been responsible for the 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) this season and it would be no surprise to see him feature as the sire of another Derby winner, too.

His own sire Galileo (Ire) could yet have a say in this season's Classics, with his daughter Savethelastdance (Ire) having routed her rivals by 22 lengths in the Cheshire Oaks. If she makes it to Epsom, one hopes that the new Oaks favourite has a less dramatic experience there than her dam Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), who bolted to post for the Oaks during a lightning storm, causing jockey Olivier Peslier to bail out in an alarming incident.

Quote of the Week

You can always rely on the inimitable Richard Kent to come up with a good line or two, and the Mickey Stud maestro didn't disappoint in his interview after the success of the Dave Evans-trained Radio Goo Goo (GB) at Chester last week.

Kent could take particular delight in this result, as he bred both the filly's sire, Havana Grey (GB), with the late Lady Lonsdale, and her dam, Radio Gaga (GB), who is by the former Mickley resident Multiplex (GB). But he reserved the greatest praise for grand-dam Gagajulu (GB) (Al Hareb), the roach-backed mare who proved that handsome is as handsome does. Among her 16 runners were 11 winners and the black-type quartet of Ardbrae Lady (GB), One Gold (GB), Under My Spell (GB), and the aforementioned Radio Gaga.

Recalling Gagajulu with fondness, Kent said, “[She] won five races in 11 weeks for Dave as a 2-year-old. She's been a fantastic mare: she paid for two barns and a divorce…I could have built 10 barns with [what it cost for] the divorce.”

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Head Rock Steady as Classic Dream Builds

It has been a good spell for Christopher Head. On Sunday, his colt Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) became the latest group winner for owner-breeder Yeguada Centurion, followed two days later by a TDN Rising Star award for the trainer's first juvenile runner of the season, Ramatuelle (Justify), who demolished her opposition in the Prix du Premier Pas at Chantilly.

This prominent start to the season picks up where Head left off last year: his first Group 1 success came in October's Prix Marcel Boussac with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), another Yeguada Centurion homebred.

It would be easy to imagine that the 36-year-old has merely waltzed in to pick up the reins upon the retirement of his father Freddy last year, but in fact he started out four years ago with a handful of horses trained from boxes rented from Pascal Bary, saying at the time, “I wanted to be seen as a trainer in my own right.”

That he very much is now. His appearance in the training ranks coincided with the expansion of the breeding operation of Spaniard Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, whose Yeguada Centurion banner is now represented on the racecourse by the offspring of the mares recruited in France, Ireland, Britain and America at some considerable expense. These included Hardiyna (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a close relative of dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire), who was bought unraced from the Aga Khan Studs carrying her first foal, who would go on to be named Big Rock and become one of the leading French Classic prospects of the season.

“Many factors affect me when it comes to Big Rock,” says Head, who has nurtured the colt through six starts to date, winning for the first time in a handicap at Chantilly in February before going on to an easy victory in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault, then Sunday's G3 Prix La Force. What was most taking about his recent win is the manner in which he dominated the race from the off before finding more when asked to go on in the final furlong.

“Starting with the colt himself: he is beautiful, willing in his work and talented. He is also from a renowned Aga Khan maternal family and I have a great respect and admiration for Prince Aga Khan. Being French and a lover of horse racing, how could it be otherwise?

“Big Rock is one of the last offspring of Rock of Gibraltar, who was a fabulous Classic racehorse. During his stallion career, Rock of Gibraltar has produced both Group 1 winners and horses capable of winning more than 10 races in their career. I admire this type of career and it is also the type of pathway that I hope to have with horses that will perform as well on the track as at breeding.”

Head adds, “And last but not least, he is a representative of the Yeguada Centurion colours and their young breeding operation. The Yeguada is the owner that brought me my first group winner, and that is a special attachment in a trainer's career.

“I owe him everything and of course we are nothing as trainers without the right horses.”

That first group winner was Sibila Spain (Ire), who took last season's G2 Prix du Muguet, and she had also been Head's first Classic runner a year earlier when fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane. As well as the success of Blue Rose Cen last year, the stable was also represented by Tigrais (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), owned by OTI Racing and Gerard Augustin Normand. The winner of the G3 Prix La Rochette, she is another potential Classic contender this year.

In regard to Big Rock's immediate future, Head outlines, “Plan A is to go the Prix de Guiche [on May 9] to prepare for the Prix du Jockey Club. I still want to see how he is after Sunday's race but he seems to have come out of it brilliantly.”

Blue Rose Cen, meanwhile, is set to shed her winter wraps and step back into the limelight at Longchamp on Sunday for the G3 Prix de la Grotte, which could also feature Tigrais, depending on the weather in the interim.

“We are on schedule for everything,” Head says. “Blue Rose Cen is ready for her first race of the season, and of course the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is going to be the main target.

“She's a fast learner and always wanted to work, and she hasn't changed a bit in that respect. She has strengthened up over the winter. She has a great mental attitude and I think that's what really makes the difference.”

He continues, “We will see after the Pouliches if she can go up to 2,100m for the Prix de Diane, but it's too early to say yet.”

Of her stable-mate, Head adds, “We know that Tigrais doesn't cope with heavy ground, so we will see. At the moment the plan is for her also to go to the Prix de la Grotte, but if it rains all week we won't go there. The only thing that counts is doing what's right for her.”

From that initial team of six horses back in 2019, the inhabitants of his Chantilly stable, which he bought from his father, have grown in number to around 50. Their owners include Eric Puerari, Haras d'Etreham, Guy Pariente, Nurlan Bizakov, Haras de la Gousserie, Qatar Racing, and of course his family's Haras du Quesnay, which has two homebreds by Recoletos (Fr) in the yard.

“We are trying to grow in a way that we are able to keep the quality of work that we are doing right now,” he says. “I am very happy with the team that I've built up and I'm very happy with the owners we have with us who are helping us to grow and to go into those races.

“We bought the stable this year so now we are able to stay in one place. It's good to be able to tell people that we are here to stay for a long time. We are at around 50 horses this year. I think we will stay at this number for now, and we already have what we need for this season, but of course we are open for next season for new owners.”

Last year represented a significant time of change for the Head family and for French racing itself, with the death of patriarch Alec Head at the age of 97 in June, and the retirement of Freddy Head in September. Moreover, the family's revered Haras du Quesnay is also in the process of changing hands. But the name that has become synonymous with Chantilly is still represented among the training ranks by Christopher and his sister Victoria, who has trained her first two winners this year.

“I really want to be able to continue what my grandfather and my father have built,” Head says. “It's hard for me to say that I will be as good as them because they have done so many things that are impressive, but I will try to continue in this way.”

Quizzed by TDN on Tuesday morning as to how his juvenile team for 2023 was shaping up, he had replied, “It's a bit early but will be able to assess the others from what happens today. It's about the first runner, and then everything else sorts itself out after that.”

So, after watching Ramatuelle put clear daylight between herself and her 14 rivals at Chantilly, how's he feeling now?

“I am very happy. I've never had a filly that had that much speed and precocity at the same time. This race was really important and I'm really happy that the stable is capable of having that kind of programme for her,” Head says.

“It's too soon to make firm plans. For now, the plan is to stay in France for her next race, whatever happens. But of course we will have a discussion, and it could be an option to go to Royal Ascot for the Queen Mary, but we will see.”

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Christopher Head: “I Wish My Grandfather Could Have Been There’

His father Freddy had an enduring love affair with the Breeders' Cup thanks to his treble Mile winner Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), and this year it is the turn of Christopher Head to take his chance at America's major international meeting with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

It has been quite the year for Head, 35, who notched his first group win in the G2 Prix du Muguet with TDN Rising Star Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB), a first Group 1 in last weekend's Prix Marcel Boussac, and is now aiming at his first major overseas trip. In the midst of all this it was announced that he would take up the reins at the stable of Freddy Head, who will retire at the end of this season following an illustrious career, first as a jockey and later as a trainer.

“When my father made the announcement of his retirement, I wasn't expecting it because he hadn't talked about it,” said the French trainer on a visit to Tattersalls last week. “I learnt of it in the news like everybody else. This is how we are.”

There have been a number of sons, and the occasional daughter joining forces with their father since partnership training licences were introduced in Britain in 2020. However, in France, joint licences have been permitted for much longer, though this was never a route taken by Freddy and Christopher Head, with the latter having started training initially with a handful of rented boxes at Pascal Bary's Chantilly yard in 2019.

Christopher explains, “He always kept his distance with me in the beginning of my training career because he didn't want me to be in his shadow. I hope that it shows in the various things that I have done so far that it wasn't him, and that that can give owners confidence.

“It needed to be done as I wanted to try to make my own stamp on the stable. Now I am buying my father's stable. I've been training three years and now everything is settled and we are jumping onto the next step and having our own yard.”

The portents could not be better as the younger Head steps into this enhanced role having starred on Arc weekend with a smart young filly he will now take to Keeneland in pursuit of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of Churchill has been highly tried this season, racing six times from early May for four wins, including the G3 Prix d'Aumale en route to the Marcel Boussac.

“It was really the pinnacle of a programme that I had with various fillies,” says Head as he reflects on a breakthrough Group 1 victory, not just for himself but for Blue Rose Cen's Spanish owner-breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, who notably made significant investment in broodmares at the sales in America and Europe several years ago.

“To prepare for the race [last] Sunday, we needed for her to kick at the start of the season and race every month,” he continues. “And from the start she really was very sound and very brilliant–a fast learner, and that's why things have been so easy for her. She really has always been so straightforward, leading the string sometimes. It really is an honour for me to train her.”

Despite a busy domestic programme this spring and summer for Blue Rose Cen, Head is adamant that she should take her chance at Keeneland.

He says, “That's the idea. We've been taking inspiration from what they do in Great Britain and Ireland. It's an experiment to see if we are capable of having 2-year-olds at this level, of this quality. What does Aidan O'Brien do? He runs his 2-year-olds.

“Of course I have been looking at all the Breeders' Cup replays from Keeneland to see what we need to do to win. I will prepare her for distance and speed, and of course to go left-handed. Everything will be done to ensure that we get her there in top condition.”

Head, whose younger sister Victoria is also now training, following a long family tradition that stretches back to their great-grandfather Willie Head and includes grandfather Alec, and aunt Criquette, knows that he is fortunate to have been selected by Fernandez Pujals to train some of his first wave of homebreds. The Coolmore-bred Sibila Spain, a full-sister to the smart stayer Master Of Reality (Ire) and from a family laden with black type, was recruited as a yearling at Arqana and also races in his colours.

“He sent me horses that I couldn't even imagine I would get to train,” says Head. “There is a huge gap between my beginning and when I had the chance to train horses for him and I really thank him again for his confidence in my stable. When you're a young trainer to have the confidence of a great owner like him is everything.

“He was already involved with Spanish [sport] horses but it's only been three years that he has been breeding thoroughbreds and he is brilliant enough to have learned every pedigree and he can go right back into the past with them. It's incredible to have him and to be part of his project. It's a huge project that I believe will have success. He bought a lot of nice mares and it's good for new owners to see that it is still possible to have success like this.”

He adds of the recently retired Sibila Spain, “She was the first horse I had for him, and she was my first group winner, so she is very special. Hopefully I might have the chance to train her offspring in the future.”

While the future looks bright for Head, his one regret is that his legendary grandfather Alec, who won the Arc as both a trainer and breeder, the latter with the dual victrix Treve (Fr), did not live long enough to see his first Group 1 success. The master of Haras du Quesnay died in June at the age of 97.

“It has been a beautiful year but it has also been a hard one too,” he notes. “I wish my grandfather could have been there to see it. Even though he was family, he was also a legend to us, so it was a hard time to think that I would no longer be able to discuss horses with him, because now I think that I am mature enough to do that. But I just hope somehow he saw it and enjoyed it.”

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