€350,000 Qatar Forêt (Gr1): Ramatuelle wins her first Group 1

ParisLongchamp, France – October 6, 2024 – The Qatar Prix de la Forêt (Gr1), presented by Education Above All, featured a selective field of 18 runners. Matilda Picotte (Sioux Nation) set a blistering pace in an attempt to run off with the race despite her outside draw. Poet Master (Lope de Vega), who had the rail, and Kinross (Kingman), winner of the 2022 edition and runner-up last year, who had drawn post 2, were also prominent. Tribalist (Farhh) likewise joined the leading group, while Ramatuelle (Justify), one of three 3-year-old fillies in the race, tracked the leaders in her first start in more than five months, following her third-place finish in the Coronation Stakes (Gr1). In the stretch, she was bumped and forced to launch her bid down the centre of the track, where she asserted her superiority over Kinross, who had enjoyed a ground-saving trip along the rail. The filly, owned by Infinity Nine Horses (Tony Parker) in partnership with Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France, Chun Wai Kwok, Ilse Smits, Arthur Hoyeau, and Clément Troprès, ultimately won by three lengths over Kinross, who finished a good second ahead of Beauvatier (Lope de Vega), who closed from far back to take third place from Exxtra (Starspangledbanner), who had been well placed throughout.

This was Ramatuelle’s first victory of the year following a second-place finish in the Prix Imprudence and two podium finishes in the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. It was also her first Group 1 win, as she had finished second in the Sumbe Prix Morny last year after winning the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2).

The winner's dam, Raven’s Lady (Raven’s Pass), was purchased for $300,000 by Yeguada Centurion at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2019 after she had retired from racing. In Europe, at age 4, she won the Summer Hill Stakes (Gr3) and the Goldene Peitsche (Gr2), both over 1200 meters. In the USA, she won an optional claiming race on the turf over 1500 meters. Ramatuelle is her first foal, and she was sold for €100,000 to her current owners at Arqana. Her third dam produced the excellent Best of the Bests (Machiavellian), winner of the Prix d’Ispahan (Gr1).

A son of Uncle Mo was born in 2022. He is named Tito Mo Cen and is in training with Victoria Head for Yeguada Centurion, who entered him in June and had also nominated him for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1).

Covered in 2023 by Churchill, Raven’s Lady produced a colt by Lope de Vega.

What connections said:

Tony Parker – the co-owner of Ramatuelle (1st)

«  It's superb! I'm lucky to have the right people around me, and that was important for me when I started out in racing. I contacted Henri [notes to editor : Bozo] and he welcomed me with open arms, and that makes winning even more special. We were looking for a Gr1 win [with the filly], having been to England for that [placed in the 1,000 Guineas], and so to win this Group 1 on home soil is huge. Ramatuelle has a huge heart. »

Christopher Head – the trainer of Ramatuelle (1st) – Chantilly (Oise)

«Ramatuelle is incredible! She's has a lot of speed... Her Group 1 victory was a long time in coming, and I'm delighted that it happened during the Arc weekend. She was in exalted company in this race. It’s been a long time since that we’ve had such a deep field such as this... she's unique. She was able to be covered up and and her jockey was able to do what he wanted [with the filly]. It was crazy! It's one of my greatest victories. I'll remember it for the rest of my life. »

Ralph Beckett – the trainer of Kinross (2nd) - Britain

« Kinross ran remarkably well yet again, but was beaten by a very classy filly, so there are no excuses. It was a very good performance and he showed his mettle,  but Ramatuelle was untouchable. I'm happy with Kinross and, if he comes out of the race in good order, he may head the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot. »

Yann Barberot the trainer of Beauvatier (3rd) - Deauville (Calvados)

« Beauvatier ran on exceptionally well in the straight, having shown an incredible turn of foot. He finished fastest of all. In the morning he tends to work very well, is straight forward and is getting fitter each time. He  showed us yet again that he's a genuine  Group 1 horse. Given the state of the ground today, it's surprising what he showed today. He's progressing from race to race. It's possible that he’ll to Ascot in a fortnight's time. »