Christopher Head was the fourth generation of his family to train an Arc Day winner, carrying on French racing's most enduring dynastic tradition Blue Rose Cen ran away from their competition and achieved extremely impressive success under Aurelien Lemaitre.
The Irish-trained pair yawned five lengths back No limit And Never ending story . From the moment Lemaitre pushed his partner to the inside of the field on the cutaway rail, the race was over as a meaningful contest.
Well clear! Blue Rose Cen wins the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/EBgrMKVCB6
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 2, 2022
Head welcomed his up-to-date stable star with remarkable outward peaceful. She wears the same blue and white Yeguada Centurion silks as Sibila Spain who opened his group racing account as a trainer in May.
Head said: “It’s unbelievable. This filly has been like this since the beginning of the year. She’s always at her best and I think she could be a really nice three-year-old.”
“This race has been planned since the beginning of the year. She has reached the peak of her career and so have I.”
“I think Aurelien had the perfect run by staying on the rails and waiting for the track to clear. It was a dream run.”
Christopher Head
Head, the son of Freddy and nephew of Criquette, earned a license in 2018 after supporting both during their early years in the sport.
Lemaitre was an apprentice to Freddy Head, and the winning trainer and jockey grew up racing together.
“Aurelien and I started together with my father and now we work together. We’ve always been devoted to each other,” Head said. “It's a wonderful story.
“I also have to thank the owner, Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, for his trust in us and the incredible horses he sent us. I hope we can work together forever.”
“I don't know when I realized how pure she was, but it's a wonderful sign looking ahead to next year. She looks like a classic filly.”
“If we want to compete again this year we have many options, including the Breeders' Cup – which she is now qualified for – as well as the Criterium. But I need to talk to the owner because she is clearly a filly that will stay at 2,000 meters (a mile and a quarter) next year.”
The Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, the winner of which will automatically receive a qualifying spot and fees paid for the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) on World Championship weekend, November 4th and 5th Keeneland.
Jim Bolger was ecstatic with Gan Teorainn who was second Basil Martini in the Weld Park Stakes (G3) just seven days earlier.
“We are ecstatic with the run and one way or another she is a filly for next year,” Bolger said. “She's really made for this game. I don’t think it bothered her to run back so swift because on the last day they weren’t too swift and she only had one race and an eighth of a mile.”
“Next year it will come into its own over a mile and a half. She’s a lovely, consistent filly.”
