Sporting superstars Tony Parker and Thierry Henry will be in attendance at Newmarket on Sunday to cheer on the Christopher Head-trained 1000 Guineas contender Ramatuelle.
The Chantilly-based handler will be represented in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas by Ramatuelle who, like red-hot QIPCO 2000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy, is by 2018 US Triple Crown winner Justify.
A winner of three of her five outings as a juvenile, the daughter of Justify will tackle the mile trip for the first time at Newmarket on Sunday but brings some smart form to the table over shorter distances having finished a neck behind Commonwealth Cup favourite Vandeek in the Prix Morny at Deauville.
Christopher Head's filly raced freely when finding Charlie Appleby's French Guineas bound Romantic Style too strong in the Group 3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville on her reappearance, but the Chantilly trainer firmly believes she has the qualities to land Britain's first fillies' Classic of the season.
"We are preparing Ramatuelle 100 per cent for the Guineas. She is very well and came out of her first run of the season in good form," said Head who was speaking on a call hosted by QIPCO British Champions Series and The Jockey Club.
"As we discussed plans last year, we thought she had the profile for the Guineas, and it would be best to wait until next season with her.
"She is a filly with a lot of energy, so it was good to give her a prep run. We are really happy with her right now.
"She has a strong heart. On her comeback at Deauville, it was very heavy ground and she still stayed on well and finished her race, which was a good Guineas trial.
"She is also strong mentally and easy to deal with, so travelling is not a problem. When we come to England or Ireland, we come with a sense of humility as we are up against the best horses and trainers in Europe on different racetracks.
"We think there is something special about this filly and that Newmarket will suit her, although we can't be 100 per cent sure. Of course, this is my first Guineas, but from what I see in the morning and her profile, I have the feeling Newmarket should suit her. The start of the race is important, and I think she will be up there in the early stages. Her jockey Aurelien Lemaitre has ridden there before and knows the filly well, which is a great advantage.
"She was really precocious from the start and Justify is clearly a tremendous stallion in the making and showing a lot of quality – I am lucky to be training some of his progeny. He made a great start, and it is great to see his progeny progressing at two and three. I hope we can show it is possible to be as precocious as she was last year and go on to be a three-year-old. She will travel over on Saturday and stay overnight in Newmarket."
There will be some famous names in attendance to cheer on Ramatuelle as she bids for Classic glory on Sunday, with her owner Tony Parker, a legend on the NBA scene, being joined by fellow sporting icon Thierry Henry, who was part of the French national team's 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship-winning sides.
Head added: "Having Tony Parker as part of the circle is something special. The eye that he has from his career and his winning attitude all helps us and it is a pleasure to have him around. I have not had the luck of talking to Thierry Henry yet and will meet him for the first time on Sunday. I can't wait, it's really going to be something.
"What I love about being a trainer is that you have access to people who have had a lot of success in life and Tony knows all about being part of a team and how to get the best from people. He is an athlete and I'm training athletes – he has always been a very good adviser."
On coming from such a famous racing family, the trainer added: "I have big shoes to fill but it comes with a lot of advantages.
"It's important to have your own personality – I am not training like my grandfather, my father or my aunt. There is heritage there and I hope I am not going to make a black mark on my family!
"We have been trying to hit expectations with the stable and make it work, with the horses giving 100 per cent. I am a Head but still want to be myself. Every trainer is different – my aunt and father have both been great mentors and still help me when I have to make decisions although they do not interfere."
Head enjoyed notable UK success when saddling Big Rock to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last season and he admits success on Sunday would be something very special. "It would be really something to win the Guineas," said Head. "Winning in the UK is an objective for any French trainer as it is where horseracing is most important. The atmosphere at your racetracks is just tremendous. I never felt anything like when we won with Big Rock last year in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot - it was something special and I will come to the UK every year when I have the right horses."
