- Tony Parker owns Ramatuelle, one of the main candidates for the 1,000 Guineas
- The couple’s prospect of Rowley Mile has increased excitement in the town.
One is the NBA legend who has the mission of spreading the world of racing; the other is a true football great, a thoroughbred in every inch.
Tony Parker and Thierry Henry have forged a firm friendship over the years and will break new ground together on Sunday when they head to Newmarket to watch the 1000 Guineas, the second Classic of the English flat season.
Parker, owner of Ramatuelle, a leading 1,000 Guineas contender, is determined to get famous faces into racing and a couple of years ago persuaded Formula One driver Charles Leclerc to buy a stake in a horse.
Whether he will go that far with Henry remains to be seen, but the prospect of the pair being at Rowley Mile has increased excitement in the town for the occasion and even left Christopher Head, who trains Ramatuelle at Chantilly, feeling a little starstruck. .
The head comes from a royal upbringing; His father, Freddie, his aunt, Criquette, and his grandfather, Alec, trained several horses that became all-time greats.
Friends Tony Parker (C) and Thierry Henry at an NBA game in San Antonio, Texas in 2019
The 37-year-old has memories that will last a lifetime, but scoring a 1,000 Guineas hit for Parker would be, he says, incredible.
“What I love about being a trainer is that I have access to a lot of people who have had a lot of success in life and then want to be successful with horses,” Head said. ‘I always have the privilege of being able to talk to them and ask them, “What are the ingredients for success?”‘
Few are better qualified than Parker to answer this question. A four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he reached such levels that the team retired its No. 9 jersey in honor of his achievements.
He is now president of the French team ASVEL Basket but is obsessed with racing. His dream would be to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but, first, the 1,000 Guineas would be huge to get along the way and Ramatuelle certainly has an excellent chance: he is 8/1 on Betfair.
“We’re very happy with her,” says Head, a man so committed to self-improvement that he has started learning Japanese. ‘She is full of energy and knows how to put it into practice. “It will be a strong field, but when it comes to competing in England, you are up against the best in Europe.”
Ramatuelle, a dashing youngster who won several big races, was beaten in her season comeback last month, but the ground was horrible and Head was thrilled with what he saw; He also found it reassuring to receive regular observations from Parker.
Christopher Head (centre), who trains Ramatuelle in Chantilly, admits to feeling a little dazzled
“Tony has team sport in mind at all times,” Head said during a QIPCO press conference. ‘He wants the people around him to be as successful as possible. It was important for me to receive advice from him. He is an athlete and I train athletes.
‘It gives me an idea of what to do with the horses and the staff I have around me. Tony has always been a very good advisor. Having Ramatuelle together in that corporation is something special for me.
“I have never had the luck to speak at length with Thierry yet. It will be the first time he sees it when we get to the Guineas. Tony is the man I have the most access to. Meeting Theirry will be new and I can’t wait. “It’s going to be something special.”
