Full of Gold headed to Champion

When Criquette Head-Maarek saddles FULL OF GOLD (Gold Away [Ire]) in

Saturday's Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket, it will be a family affair. The

three-year-old, who is rated an outsider following some indifferent displays

this summer, was bred by Head-Maarek's parents, Alec and Ghislaine. The race

could also continue the trainer's run of success in 2008.

Thanks to African Rose (Observatory) and Proportional (Beat Hollow [GB]),

Head-Maarek's fortunes have been revived at the highest level this year. French

racing's most celebrated female has launched many successful raids on Newmarket

down the years, with Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1) and English One Thousand Guineas

(Eng-G1) victories supplied by Ma Biche, Ravinella, Pas de Reponse and Hatoof,

the latter of whom became her sole winner of this race in 1993.

Full of Gold looked likely to provide more highs for the 59-year-old when

capturing the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) in November, but after a

successful return in the Prix Noailles (Fr-G2) at Longchamp in April, something

went awry with the chestnut. Only fourth in the Prix Hocquart (Fr-G2) back at

that track the following month, he beat no rivals in the Prix du Jockey Club

(Fr-G1) at Chantilly in June and Prix Niel (Fr-G2) back at Longchamp in

September. Last time, there was a glimpse of a return to form in his second,

under a six-pound penalty, in the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (Fr-G3) and his

trainer thinks she has him back.

"After the French Derby, he had some problems we had to sort out and he was

far from his best in the Niel," Head-Maarek explains. "His run at

Maisons-Laffitte was very good, as he was giving weight away and he is coming

back to his best now. A mile and a quarter is probably his best distance."

Her father must also retain belief in his homebred, as he recently bought

back his half-brother by Numerous for 340,000 at the Arqana August Sale in

Deauville. His half-brother Fuisse (Green Tune) was runner-up in the Prix Thomas

Bryon (Fr-G3) at Saint-Cloud. Alec Head knows what it takes to collect here,

having saddled *Hafiz and *Rose Royale to success in 1955 and 1957,

respectively, and the enduring legacy of French racing and breeding's most

notorious dynasties is set to continue, win or lose, on Saturday.