Ramatuelle Fifth TDN ‘Rising Star’ for Justify

It was a new Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ for Justify on Tuesday when Ramatuelle (2f Justify x Raven’s Lady, by Ravens Pass) became his first juvenile winner of the year at Chantilly.

Breaking strongly in the five-furlong turf race, Ramatuelle was a prominent member of the field from the start. It was clear that jockey Aurelien Lemaitre had plenty of horse left going into the final furlong and Ramatuelle showed his faith was justified as she romped away to win by 4 ½ lengths.

That performance had Thoroughbred Daily News immediately name her a Rising Star – the fifth for her sire.

Trained by Christopher Head, Ramatuelle is owned by Infinity Nine Horses, Arthur Hoyeau, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Mme Ilse Smits and Clement Tropres and was making her debut in the race.

“We had very good reports from Christopher so we were quite hopeful. She did on the track what she was showing in the mornings and Christopher thinks that she will be better when she steps up in distance a little so we are very excited about the filly,” Hoyeau told Thoroughbred Daily News.

She is bred by Yeguada Centurion as the first foal out of the multiple graded stakes winning Raven’s Lady. The mare’s dam is a half-sister to Grade I winner Best of the Bests and the dam of multiple graded stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed Prince of Arran.

Raven’s Lady also foaled an Uncle Mo colt in 2022.

Justify’s first crop includes Grade I Kentucky Derby contender Verifying, who finished second by a neck in last weekend’s Grade I Blue Grass Stakes.