3 minute read
Smart filly Ramatuelle returned to winning ways for the first time as a three-year-old when winning the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret in commanding style at Longchamp.
Following third-place finishes over a mile in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, Ramatuelle bounced back to winning ways with a smooth success on her first outing tackling seven furlongs as a three-year-old.
The Christopher Head-trained filly travelled kindly throughout the seven-furlong contest, before quickening up smartly to put the race to bed inside the final furlong under Aurelien Lemaitre. Ralph Beckett's Kinross attempted to close the gap as the field entered the last 100 yards, but the Arc-winning combination was out of luck on this occasion, as their evergreen seven-year-old could only get to within three lengths of the runaway winner.
Yann Barberot's Beauvatier finished a further three-quarters of a length away back in third.
The daughter of Justify, who is owned by six-time NBA All-Star Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, now looks set to head Stateside with the Breeders' Cup firmly in her sights according to trainer Christopher Head.
"I love that filly!" Head shouted.
"She really deserved that run today and I'm so happy that she got it, now we will be able to go to the Breeders' Cup.
"Wow, wow, did you see that? It was mad!
"She did it in the Guineas at the beginning of the season and she's still capable of doing it. She's going to do even better next year; she's looking nice and getting better and better with time.
"There was a strong field today, with all the older horses she's beaten, it's crazy. She really coped with it (the ground). Justifys pretty much go on every ground so it's really a pleasure to train those horses.
"I really want to thank all the owners and Tony Parker for everything that they've done and the confidence that they've got in the stable because it's been a chaotic year and I'm so happy to win today for them and I hope it will continue in the future. Tony Parker really has a strong mindset and I'm very happy to have him around me to help me with the management and the winning mindset."