Search

show me:

Christopher Head hoping for further classic glory

3 minute read

Christopher Head ticked off a significant milestone in his career three weeks ago training his first Classic winner in the French 1000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches) with Blue Rose Cen. She also provided him with his maiden Group One success in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

BLUE ROSE CEN.
BLUE ROSE CEN. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

On Sunday he will be hoping his recent big race wins continue as Big Rock looks set to be one of the main chances in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (French Derby).

Raced by the same connections at Blue Rose Cen, Big Rock is a three-year-old son of Rock Of Gibraltar, will bid to gain a second classic for both connections and the stable.

Big Rock has been improving with every run, being well placed, and climbing through the grades. He has won each of his four starts since joining Christopher Head's yard at the beginning of the year, taking a handicap, the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault on the all-weather, the Group Three Prix la Force at Longchamp and last start the Group 3 Prix de Guiche in impressive style at Chantilly last month. The latter is considered one of the key trial races ahead of the French Derby and last year Vadeni won this event before going on to win the Prix du Jockey Club. Big Rock will be hoping he can do the same.

The trainer said: "Obviously it is a lot, he is a horse who has run once a month and it is rare that a horse can run that many races that well.

"Each time he does run he comes out of it really well, his appetite hasn't changed, in fact I think he actually improved with each run that he has had.

"He seems to be able to handle it really well, when he runs over nine furlongs he does recover really well.

"Obviously now it's going to be a little bit longer and in the future could be even longer, we will discover that, but in terms of his work it has all been very satisfying."

"We didn't know the limits of this horse, that was before he ran in the Prix de Guiche, he then won it by five lengths,"

"When I talk about limits, what I mean is that I didn't really know how far he could go, and he has proven that he is a horse that has a lot of speed and who can go over that trip.

"The thing is with him is that he's got that cruising speed, he travels at that cruising speed, and you can see how he finishes and how he responds over that trip."

Head added: "What indicates that he can get the trip is the pedigree, and I am 99 per cent convinced that there will be no problem regarding the trip.

"It's a question of attitude, he exhausts the other horses, but this is a real race now, it's not work in the mornings, and we will see.

"In terms of trip and in terms of pedigree, there is no indication against it."

"I'm not (more relaxed) because that's already in the past, this is in the future. We are always 100 per cent concentrated on what lies ahead of us,"

"I'm training good horses and getting to a point in my career where the aim is to continuously bring out good horses and to continuously have success in those important races.

"Blue Rose Cen was a challenge and Big Rock is another one, but we already have two-year-olds that are coming, and the important thing now is that we are competitive in these races."


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au