By Sean Cronin
France Galop has boosted a series of 21 premium races for unraced 2-year-olds with increased prizemoney and the first such event, Tuesday's €50,000 Prix du Premier Pas at Chantilly, was bolstered by a 'TDN Rising Star' performance from Christopher Head incumbent Ramatuelle (Justify–Raven's Lady {GB}, by Raven's Pass), a €100,000 Arqana August purchase, who debuted with a stunning display in the straight five-furlong test.
Ramatuelle, sporting the Infinity Nine Horses silks, broke well from an outer stall and raced prominently throughout. Looming large on the bridle approaching the final furlong, the 23-10 favourite was not for catching once hitting the front soon after and powered clear in impressive fashion to easily outclass Dubai Hills (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) by 4 1/2 lengths. She becomes the fifth 'TDN Rising Star' for Justify (Scat Daddy), whose roll of honour includes unbeaten G2 Airlie Stud S. heroine Statuette.
“At this stage she is much more forward than most of my other 2-year-olds,” the winning trainer commented. “She has been working well at home and looks like a nice sort with a future.”
Ramatuelle, half to a yearling filly by Uncle Mo, is the first of two 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}).
Arthur Hoyeau (left): Scoop Dyga
She was bought for €100,000 by Arthur Hoyeau, who described the filly as his pick of the fillies at the August Sale at Arqana, and predicted bigger and better things to come from Ramatuelle when she steps up in trip.
“We had very good reports from Christopher so we were quite hopeful. She did on the track what she was showing in the mornings and Christopher thinks that she will be better when she steps up in distance a little so we are very excited about the filly,” Hoyeau said after the race.
“I am also very excited about the ownership group, which is composed of high-profile industry players from all over the world, so it's quite exciting. She was my favourite filly of the August Sale. She was not one hundred per cent at the sale because she got cast and that is probably the reason why we were able to afford her.
“Justify is a very promising stallion and his progeny are quite versatile. He can get very nice horses on turf and dirt and, through that Scat Daddy line, he could do anything. They can go quick early in their careers and they also seem to train on and get further with racing–that's the sign of a very good stallion.”
Although nothing concrete has been mapped out for Ramatuelle, Hoyeau revealed that connections were keen to take in a novice before stepping the filly up in class.
He said, “Christopher is first of all very talented as a trainer and he likes to project himself so he has mapped out a few races for this filly already. We will take things step by step with her and go for a novice over six furlongs next and then go for the better races after that.”
Tuesday's success marked an excellent week for Hoyeau on a personal level given the leading bloodstock advisor also bought Classic Flower (GB), who got her first-season sire Calyx (GB) off the mark at the first attempt, for 45,000gns as a foal.
“We have a few more two-year-olds in the pipeline. We have two fillies in training with Christophe Ferland, who has just set up in Chantilly, and we are quite excited about them. There is a No Nay Never and a Zoustar (Aus) that we really like so we are in good shape. It's been a good start but hopefully there are a few more to come as well.”
3rd-Chantilly, €50,000, Mdn, 4-11, unraced 2yo, c/g, 5fT, :59.70, sf.
RAMATUELLE, 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) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €25,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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.
✨ RAMATUELLE wins Prix du Premier Pas @fgchantilly today for @HeadRacing1.
Purchased by @ArthurHoyeau from @InfoArqana for a partnership with us, @benkwok44444, Infinity Nine Horses, Hollymount Stud, Ilse SMITS & C. Troprès.
— Ecurie Monceaux (@EcurieMonceaux) April 11, 2023
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