Christopher Head Bids for Maiden Group 1 in Saint-Alary

The name Head is streaked through the 61-year history of the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (G1) and the newest member of France's pre-eminent training dynasty bids to add to that rich history with Sibila Spain, an unbeaten daughter of Frankel . 

Christopher Head—son of Freddy and thus nephew of Criquette—supplemented Sibila Spain off the back of a nine-length debut win at Saint-Cloud, one which she backed up at Lyon last month.

"I'm pretty optimistic and I love this filly, she's showed me plenty," said Head. "I think she'll have similar (soft) ground to when she won her first race and I'm pretty sure that makes her even more competitive. I really wanted to see her do it again second time out before going up to group races.

"We wanted to hide her away a bit more but she has so much speed that she found herself in front. She won very well and she might have more speed than stamina, though it's probably too early to tell because we haven't held her up yet."

Head saddled his first runner in December 2018 and while his string numbers 14, has been able to work Sibila Spain with some meaningful yardsticks.

Head said: "It's a very hard thing to explain when you have a certain feeling around a good horse. I've seen them up close as assistant to my father and in other stables. I really have a strong feeling that she is one of them. She has shown really good things, not only physically but mentally."

Head ought to recognize a good middle-distance filly when he sees one, given the 34-year-old was working as assistant to his aunt during the Treve  years. 

He added: "She works on the grass with my father's horses and none can go with her so we have a pretty good line."

Sibila Spain carries the silks of owner Leopoldo Pujals—unfortunate in last Sunday's Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) when Reina Madre  was struck into from behind—and speaks of Head's ambition to scale the heights quickly. 

"I expect a lot from Sibila Spain and I think this is a pretty open Saint-Alary," said Head. "It is important to show owners that we can compete at this level and I think Sibila Spain is one of them."

On the book another filly by Frankel, Prix Vanteaux (G3) winner Rumi , may head the competition, while Cirona  and Harajuku  have also won classic trials this spring.