By Sean Cronin
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.”
😳 Justify @coolmoreamerica is having some run!
After City Of Troy made light work of the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, Ramatuelle takes the G2 Robert Papin for @HeadRacing1 pic.twitter.com/Qovs1aXm8G
— TDN (@theTDN) July 16, 2023
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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