Houquetot is set to race in Paris

Christopher Head is eyeing the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for the promising juvenile Houquetot following his recent victory in Paris.

The colt, sired by Wootton Bassett and out of the Group Three-winning War Front mare Happen, was bred by Coolmore Stud and is now owned by a partnership comprising Al Shaqab Racing, Jean-Claude Seroul, and Gerard Augustin-Normand.

Houquetot made a striking debut at Compiegne in June, winning by three lengths over seven furlongs. He followed up a month later with another impressive victory at the same track, this time by two and a half lengths.

Stepping up to Group Three level at Deauville last month, now racing in the silver silks of Al Shaqab, Houquetot finished as the runner-up in the Prix Francois Boutin, with Joseph O’Brien’s Cowardofthecounty taking the win.

On Sunday at Longchamp, he tackled another Group race, the Prix la Rochette, and returned to winning ways with a decisive three-quarter-length victory over seven furlongs.

Head plans to target the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for Houquetot’s next outing and is hopeful that the colt will mature into a mile contender for the Classics as a three-year-old.

“Houquetot is in excellent form and came back from his race in great condition,” said Head. “We will aim for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He’s a very swift horse with a great temperament. Aurelien Lemaitre has been doing an excellent job with him, and we’ve been keeping him fresh for his upcoming races.”

Regarding Houquetot’s Classic aspirations for next year, Head added: “That is very much the plan.”