‘He’s Definitely The Best I’ve Trained’: Head Hails Foret Hero Maranoa Charlie

[Wandering Eyes]

In many ways, the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret around ParisLongchamp's bends was tailor-made for Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) and with the all-important draw and testing ground in his favour he was able to produce a career-defining performance on what looks to be his swansong. While this is a 'Win And You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Mile, the chances are we have seen the last of Bond Thoroughbred's high-powered cruiser who had so long promised to live up to his status as a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.

Always full of energy on the front end under Aurelien Lemaitre, the 9-2 shot who had been placed in the Prix Jean Prat and City Of York kicked decisively in the straight en route to a 1 1/4-length success from The Aga Khan Studs homebred Zarigana (Siyouni).

“He is definitely the best horse I've trained–he is so good,” Christopher Head said. “He has something else. It's incredible to deal with that kind of strategy throughout his three-year-old season and come back and do this. He could be one of best stallions around in the future. He goes on any ground, so I need to talk to the owners to see what they want to do but this could be the end of the road. What a road it's been, I've loved it! It was insane!”

MARANOA CHARLIE TAKES THEM ALL THE WAY IN THE GROUP ONE QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET! #QPAT pic.twitter.com/2bBihljFAt

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025

 

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET-G1, €350,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-5, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:20.80, vsf.
1–MARANOA CHARLIE (FR), 126, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Koubalibre (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kheleyf's Silver (Ire), by Kheleyf
3rd Dam: Silver Arrow, by Shadeed
TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€220,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Bond Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Gestut Zur Kuste AG; T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €199,990. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 10-6-1-1, €617,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zarigana (GB), 122, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Zarkamiya (Fr), by Frankel (GB). TDN Rising Star. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €80,010.
3–Ten Bob Tony (Ire), 128, g, 4, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Hug (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€65,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR; €100,000 2yo '23 ARQMAY). O-TBT Racing; B-Knocktoran Stud; T-Ed Walker. €40,005.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1HF, HD. Odds: 4.50, 2.10, 19.00.
Also Ran: More Thunder (Ire), Geography (Ger), Exxtra (Fr), Godspeed (Fr), Roshvar (Fr), King's Gamble (Ire), Sajir (Ire), Zoum Zoum (GB), Witness Stand (GB), Topgear (Fr), Devil's Point (Ire), Zerostress (Ger), Exactly (Ire).

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