Christopher Head

Fast but not quite fast enough for six furlongs, Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) was back in his comfort zone on Sunday and back in the winner's enclosure at the end of ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. Let loose from the outset of the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat prep by Aurelien Lemaitre, the 19-10 favourite who was fourth in Chantilly's G3 Prix Texanita speed test last month relished the opportunity to dominate from an early point. Chased to the line by the Wertheimers' Silius (Dubawi) as he had been...

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's hitherto unraced No Tune (GB) (No Nay Never), a homebred half-sister to GI United Nations Handicap hero Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), made a winning debut in Monday's €30,000 Prix Epinard at Chantilly. Taking control approaching the final furlong, the 27-10 favourite was ridden clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Hold My Hand (Fr) (Threat {Ire}).   🇫🇷 Prix Epinard @fgchantilly Chantilly - Classe 3 - 2 ans - 1000m - Bon Souple (3.3) - 8 Pts - 30 000...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features an interesting newcomer for Christopher Head. 2.30 Chantilly, Mdn, €30,000, 2yo, 5fT NO TUNE (GB) (No Nay Never) catches the eye as a Wertheimer-bred half-sister to the GI United Nations Stakes hero Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}). Introduced by Christopher Head, the relative of the sire Attendu...

Christopher Head-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) raced on turbo boost until running out of fuel in last term's G1 Criterium International, but bounced back in style with a pillar-to-post victory in Tuesday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains entry backed up wide-margin victories here and at Saint-Cloud with an eighth-length tally back at the latter venue's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon in his penultimate start. In command and comfortable on the front end for the most of this straight seven-furlong test,...

'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify) is set to retire to the paddocks after being bought by Coolmore for $5.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Monday. Trained by Christopher Head for owners including NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, Ramatuelle won four of her nine career starts and was last seen making the breakthrough at the top level with an emphatic victory in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, before being withdrawn from Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on veterinary advice. The three-year-old was one...

French Group 1 winner Ramatuelle (Justify) sold late in the Fasig-Tipton November sale Monday for $5.1 million to Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock as Hip 310, the 3-year-old filly was trained by Christopher Head for a large partnership and was a controversial scratch from Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile after a PET scan showed bone remodeling. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' at two, Ramatuelle is out of GSW Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass).

Leading European contender Ramatuelle (Justify) has been withdrawn from Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile on veterinary advice. Trained by Christopher Head for owners including NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, Ramatuelle was last seen making the breakthrough at the top level with an emphatic victory in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, impressing with her turn of foot as she powered clear in the closing stages to win by three lengths. Connections had been confident of a bold bid at Del Mar after being handed an inside draw but...

With an aggregate 104 engaged at the beginning of the week, contestants for Sunday's two juvenile Group 1 contests at Saint-Cloud have been whittled down to 10 after declarations were confirmed Friday morning. The one-mile G1 Criterium International has six declared for a mouthwatering renewal which features 'TDN Rising Stars' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the lone French-trained runner remaining, and supplementary entry Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The latter, who makes a swift return to action after debuting in style at Leopardstown last Saturday, is set to be...

Ramatuelle (Justify--Raven's Lady {GB}, by Raven's Pass), a 'TDN Rising Star' and recent winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret Stakes at ParisLongchamp, headlines the latest group of supplemental entries to Fasig-Tipton's November Sale which will take place on Monday, Nov. 4 beginning at 2 p.m. ET in Lexington, Kentucky, the auction company said in a release early Friday morning. The 3-year-old daughter of the Triple Crown winner and top sire will be offered as hip 310, and is consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Bedouin Bloodstock, agent. Winner...

Nurlan Bizakov's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}--Raushan {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who trailed all six rivals home in last month's G1 Prix du Moulin, bounced back to form in style with a determined win in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp. The 68-5 chance was positioned within range of the leaders in fourth through halfway in this one-mile test. Making headway once into the home straight, he inched ahead of Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) with 300 metres remaining...

Perfect through two eyecatching wins at Deauville in August and Chantilly last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued his impressive rise with an untroubled pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud to retain his unbeaten record in style. The 1-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and soon established a clear lead. Tanking along in hand throughout, he was in another parish turning for home and required minimal encouragement in the straight to easily outclass...

Yeguada Centurion homebred Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) has been retired from racing, Paris Turf reported on Friday morning. The 4-year-old daughter of multiple group winner Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy) won a quartet of Group 1s, including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. Trained through her first 12 starts by Christopher Head, the bay won four of her six appearances at two en route to being named the top filly of her year in France. She landed the G3 Prix d'Aumale and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac...