French contender Ramatuelle, trained by Christopher Head and part-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, was ruled out of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Friday after an unsatisfactory PET scan.
The filly, coming off a victory at the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, showed signs of “bone remodelling” in her legs, leading to the “deeply disappointing” decision to withdraw her from Saturday’s race.
“We are deeply disappointed that Ramatuelle has been withdrawn from the Breeders’ Cup,” the filly’s connections said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Although Ramatuelle’s PET scan reported stated ‘no definitive major concern for breakdown was identified,’ it showed signs of bone remodelling,” the filly’s connections said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“While this is common in three-year-olds, it prompted the decision to proceed with an abundance of caution and withdraw her from the race.”
Head had looked to carry on family tradition in the prestigious turf race with the filly taking on Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech.
Head’s father, Freddy Head, rode the great Miesque to two Mile victories then trained the glorious Goldikova to three straight victories from 2008-2010.
“Ramatuelle arrived in good order, she has been training well and she has been eating up every day,” Head said.
“This is obviously a disappointment and a bit of a shock for all of us, but at the end of the day, she’s healthy and well and that’s what really matters.”
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© Agence France-Presse
