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| Staff Writer |
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Big Rock, owned by Christopher Head, is coming to Britain for the first time to compete in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day.
Earlier this year, the colt won four races in a row, starting from a handicap race and ending up with a victory in the Gr.3 Prix de Guiche. This winning streak led him to the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club, where he was beaten by Ace Impact, who was expected to do well in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
After that, the colt finished second in two more races, dropping back to a mile. Now, Big Rock might debut outside of France in the Group One QEII on 21st October.
“He’s doing fine, he came out of the Prix du Moulin very well and he’s aiming for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,” Head said. “He has done some very nice work and everything’s all right, he’s a horse that has needed a bit of time between races and I’m very happy to have had that kind of break between the Moulin at Longchamp and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“We have him back fresh and everything, so I think he will be more than interesting for his next race. Heavy ground is not a problem, whatever the ground does, it is not a problem for him.”
One horse named Ramatuelle, who is a 2YO filly by Justify and had a great season, won't be seen again this term from the Head stable.
The chestnut horse has won three out of five races this season. She came in second place the other two times she raced but did well in the Gr.3 Prix du Bois and the Gr.2 Prix Robert Papin.
Her most recent race was the Prix Morny, which is a really important. She came in second place again and only lost a little bit to the good horse Vandeek. Ramatuelle won't race again until 2024 when she's three years old.
“The owners have decided that she has had a very nice two-year-old season and they want to have a 100 per cent chance with her at three,” Head explained. “They have decided not to run her again this season, she will be back next year in spring.”