In 2023, 36 year-old Christopher Head seems to be walking on water. Among his 23 wins and 39 places from just 76 starts, he can count a pair of Gr.1s, a Gr.2, and five Gr.3s. Figuring in those numbers is Big Rock, whose rating has rocketed this year, and Blue Rose Cen who accounts for both Gr.1 races, and classics at that. A licensed trainer since December 2018, it is Christopher who now follows in the Head-dynasty way.

“My father [Freddy] offered to pay for my studies so that I would do something else, because you need to be lucky to succeed in this game. I don’t regret anything. I spent a long time working with him, and they were my best years.

“You have to be a Swiss Army Knife when it comes to results. You need 2 year-olds who perform, 3 year-olds who continue their careers, and 4 year-olds. Working with 2 year-olds is the best advertisement for a trainer; a fast one is hot property.”

Head records all of his horses in work, but also relies on many traditional methods. He is not afraid to run his 2 year-olds early in the season either, as he demonstrated with the talented Ramatuelle, who has won three from four, latterly a Gr.2. She runs in the colours of Tony Parker, Head’s first horse in training for the French basketball legend.

Both Blue Rose Cen and Big Rock are owned by relative newcomer, Cuban businessman Leopoldo Fernández Pujals who, at 76 had no hesitation engaging a handler 40 years his junior. The latter finished a fine second in last weekend’s Prix Jacques le Marois, but it is Ramatuelle who will be under the spotlight on Sunday in the Gr.1 Prix Morny.