Guineas Options Open for Ramatuelle

Christopher Head won his first Classic last season with Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and he is now eyeing a possible run un the Qipco 1,000 Guineas for Ramatuelle (Justify), who was the top-rated juvenile in France in 2023.

The winner of the G2 Prix Robert Papin, and runner-up in the G1 Prix Morny, Ramatuelle is also entered for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and she will begin her preparations for the Classics in Deauville on April 9.

“Ramatuelle has been a tremendous filly for us as a two-year-old and we are now preparing her for pretty much the mile programme in France, but not only in France, in the UK too,” said Head.

“We're looking all over Europe to make the best programme for her as a three-year-old. [Newmarket] is of course a possibility, but at the end of the day her owner will decide where she will run.

“She's going to go to the Prix Imprudence and then from there we will see where we go. To be a successful miler is the main objective this year.

“I think Ramatuelle is a really nice filly and Justify has proven he can sire very versatile horses. I'm very happy to have her at three and can't wait to see what she is going to do for us in the mile races this year.”

Ramatuelle, like Blue Rose Cen and fellow Group 1 winner Big Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), was bred by Yeguada Centurion but she was sold as a yearling to a syndicate involving Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses and Ecurie des Monceaux. While Blue Rose Cen has been moved over the winter to the stable of Maurizio Guarnieri, Big Rock remains under Head's care. 

He said of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner, “Big Rock is brilliant and has done very well over the winter. He will have a nice programme in Europe and we will be able to come over to the UK again.

“I will speak with the owners before saying anything about where he is going to start, but don't worry the horse is doing very well and we're very happy with his training. We can't wait to see him back on track.”

 

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Big Rock ‘Fresh’ For QEII Next Month

Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) has exited the G1 Prix du Moulin in good order and will aim for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day, according to trainer Christopher Head.

Successful in a listed race in March, the Yeguada Centurion homebred added the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche in successive months. He has finished second in his last three races, all at Group 1 level–the Prix du Jockey Club, the Prix Jacques le Marois, and the Prix du Moulin, the latter most recently in September.

“He's doing fine, he came out of the Prix du Moulin very well and he's aiming for the Queen Elizabeth II S.,” Head said.

“He has done some very nice work and everything's all right. He's a horse that has needed a bit of time between races and I'm very happy to have had that kind of break between the Moulin at Longchamp and the Queen Elizabeth S.

“We have him back fresh and everything, so I think he will be more than interesting for his next race. Heavy ground is not a problem, whatever the ground does, it is not a problem for him.”

Head also revealed plans for Infinity Nine Horses' 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify), who is a multiple group winner and ran second in the G1 Prix Morny last month.

“The owners have decided that she has had a very nice 2-year-old season and they want to have a 100% chance with her at three,” Head explained of the G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine.

“They have decided not to run her again this season, she will be back next year in spring.”

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Banner Weekend For Justify As TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle Downs Robert Papin Rivals

Hot on the hooves of 'TDN Rising Star' City Of Troy notching an impressive tally in Newmarket's G2 Superlative S., Christopher Head trainee and 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle embellished her sire Justify's banner weekend with a spectacular performance in Sunday's G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.

The February-foaled €100,000 Arqana August graduate went postward as a heavily favoured 2-5 chance, returning off a wide-margin triumph over the six-furlong course and distance in last month's G3 Prix du Bois, and was swiftly into stride to occupy a prominent role here. Last to come off the bridle after halfway, she cruised into an outright lead approaching the final furlong and eased clear of toiling rivals with the minimum of fuss in the closing stages to hit the line with an impressive four-length advantage from G2 Railway S. third His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never). The hitherto undefeated Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}) was 3/4-of-a-length further adrift in third.

Ramatuelle became US Triple Crown hero Justify's fifth 'TDN Rising Star' when powering to an Apr. 11 debut success over five furlongs at this track, but was denied by 'TDN Rising Star' and subsequent Listed Prix Roland de Chambure victor Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in a May 28 conditions test upped to six furlongs at Saint-Cloud in her penultimate outing.

“She is so good, she behaves like an older filly and is a true professional already,” Head explained in the aftermath of collecting a first win in the contest, which stemmed the flow of nine consecutive overseas winners. “She is not the most physically impressive filly, but it is the engine that matters most. I am very lucky to train her and very grateful to the partners. I don't really know if she will stay further, but that's not the point at the moment. We shall now concentrate on the [Aug. 20 G1] Prix Morny and will do our best to get her there in great shape. It is another very exciting challenge.”

NBA All-Star Tony Parker and part-owner added, “It was a great win and I'm very happy for the whole team. Her number one quality is her calmness. She's been super calm every time I have come to see her and she looks like she knows exactly what she's going to do. The coach has done a great job, we have a plan and we're sticking to it. It was her third race here and she's very comfortable on this track. Now it's on to the Prix Morny next month.”

Reflecting on the performance of third-place finisher Classic Flower, Pauline Chehboub said, “We are delighted with that run. She is a massive filly and we had to slow her down in her training due to sore shins. She needed the race and now needs further. We will see her back in action at Deauville, she is in the [G3] Prix Six Perfections and [G3 Prix du] Calvados later this month, but options might come too soon.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Ramatuelle, one of her sire's 10 pattern-race winners, is the first of three foals produced by G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Summer S. victrix Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass). She is a full-sister to a weanling colt and half to a yearling filly by Uncle Mo. Raven's Lady is out of an unraced half-sister to G1 Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Best Of The Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian), G2 Dante S. third Dunhill Star (Ire) (Danehill) and the dam of MGSW G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}). The February-foaled chestnut's third dam, G3 Fred Darling S. winner Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), is a half-sister to the dam of GSW G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Shaanmer (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and stakes-winning GI Garden City Breeders' Cup H. second Nordican Inch (GB) (Inchinor {GB}).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 7-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:09.55, gd.
1–RAMATUELLE, 125, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Raven's Lady (GB) (GSW-Eng & Ger, $238,499), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: Pivotal Lady (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Sueboog (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
(€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €145,900. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–His Majesty (Ire), 128, c, 2, No Nay Never–Czabo (GB), by Sixties Icon (GB). (325,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Newstead Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,600.
3–Classic Flower (GB), 125, f, 2, Calyx (GB)–Crown Of Flowers (GB), by Garswood (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (45,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier. €13,650.
Margins: 4, 3/4, 3HF. Odds: 0.40, 4.20, 4.50.
Also Ran: Myconian (Ire), Balsam (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle Pulverises Prix du Bois Rivals

Breaking the juvenile track record at Chantilly on Sunday, Christopher Head trainee Ramatuelle (Justify–Raven's Lady {GB}, by Raven's Pass) justified 6-4 favouritism in the G3 Prix du Bois Longines by dominating her nine rivals with a spectacular display in the six-furlong contest.

The eventual winner was positioned in a handy second as market rival Zorken (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) set the tone up front. Inching into second at halfway, she quickened to the fore entering the final furlong and powered clear in highly impressive fashion to easily outclass her rivals by five lengths and more. Zorken kept on well to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 'TDN Rising Star' Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) in third. Ramatuelle became sire Justify's fifth 'TDN Rising Star' when delivering a taking display in her Apr. 11 unveiling over five furlongs at this venue, but was narrowly denied by fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) when returning in a May 28 six-furlong conditions heat at Saint-Cloud in her only other start. Ramatuelle's time of 1:08.05 eclipsed the prior best of 1:08.31 set by Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) in last year's G2 Prix Robert Papin.

“We have some great partners, we're creating some great relationships and we feel very blessed,” commented part-owner and NBA All-Star Tony Parker. “We had a great experience with [G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner] Mangoustine last year and here we are winning another big race. It's unbelievable. It's all you can ask, to have a horse that allows you to dream, and we are really excited after this win. There was no panic and we weren't disheartened by her defeat last time and, hopefully, she recuperates well and is ready to go for her next target. [Trainer] Christopher [Head] told me in February her programme will include the [G2] Prix Robert Papin and the [G1] Prix Morny and maybe we can now go for those big races.” Head added, “The plan is going exactly as we wished, so we will do our best to take her to the Papin now.”

Pedigree Notes
Ramatuelle, full to a weanling colt and half to a yearling filly by Uncle Mo, is the first of three foals produced by G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Summer S. victrix Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass), herself out of an unraced half to G1 Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Best Of The Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian), G2 Dante S. third Dunhill Star (Ire) (Danehill) and the dam of MGSW G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}). The February-foaled chestnut's third dam, G3 Fred Darling S. winner Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), is a half-sister to the dam of GSW G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Shaanmer (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and stakes-winning GI Garden City Breeders' Cup H. second Nordican Inch (GB) (Inchinor {GB}).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DU BOIS LONGINES – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:08.05 (NTR), g/s.
1–RAMATUELLE, 122, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Raven's Lady (GB) (GSW-Eng & Ger, $238,499), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: Pivotal Lady (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Sueboog (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Arthur Hoyeau, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €81,800. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zorken (Fr), 126, c, 2, Goken (Fr)–Zorra Chope (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€6,500 Wlg '21 ARQDEC; €3,500 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Bruno de Montzey; B-Werner Neumann (FR); T-Bruno de Montzey. €16,000.
3–Les Pavots (Ire), 122, f, 2, No Nay Never–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,000.
Margins: 5, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 2.80, 4.80.
Also Ran: Balon D'Or (GB), Antifona (Fr), Dubai Hills (GB), Dance Sioux (Ire), Gotta Skedaddle (Ire), Ziggy's Dream (Ire), Royal Mylea (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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