France: Ramatuelle shows off brilliance in Prix de la Foret

No horse impressed Sunday at Longchamp more than Ramatuelle, a slight 3-year-old filly with a serious turn of foot.

Even on very soft ground that should blunt a horse’s brilliance, Ramatuelle in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret was – brilliant.

Stalking the pace in a thicket of rivals under Aurelien Lemaitre, Ramatuelle squeezed between horses, got outside into the clear with a furlong and a half of the seven-furlong Foret remaining, and took off like a missile. She whipped past the five horses ahead of her in 75 yards and coasted through the final half-furling, a three-length winner in the end over the mighty Kinross, a former Foret winner.

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Based in France with trainer Christopher Head, Ramatuelle has an American past, an American future, and an owner well known in the American sporting world. Bred in Kentucky, Ramatuelle is by Justify out of Raven’s Lady, by Raven’s Pass. Her primary owner is Infinity Nine Horses, headed by retired San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker. And having conquered sodden conditions in Paris, Ramatuelle will cap her 2024 campaign with a trip over far firmer ground in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.

Ramatuelle, who paid $12 on the American tote, nearly won the Group 1 Prix Morny as a 2-year-old and, after three good losses this season, got her first win at age 3 in the Foret. While Kinross slogged along for the runner-up spot, Beauvatier flew home on the far outside to nab third. Tribalist, listed as a Breeders’ Cup Mile hope last week, checked in 10th. Even on his best day, he wasn’t coming close to Rametuelle.

***Makarova, a 5-year-old Acclamation mare trained by Ed Walker, won the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp on Sunday in her final start. Makarova ran down Bradsell to win the five-furlong, straight-course sprint by 1 1/2 lengths. Bradsell, not quite at his best over very soft turf, remains on course for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

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