Blue Rose Cen (FR) shot to the head of the 3-year-old European filly class during the first half of 2023. That's a bit of a double play on words since her trainer is Christopher Head, scion of a legendary family of French horsemen, also has come into his own with her.

Head represents the fifth generation of top-shelf horsemen in France. His great-grandfather, William, began riding on the Continent in 1882 and was followed by the legendary Alec Head, who sired Freddy Head, who turned a championship riding career into a marvelously successful stint as a trainer.

Christopher started off on his own and only took over the family stables upon Freddy's retirement after 2022. A chance meeting with Blue Rose Cen's owner, Spanish pizza baron Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, led to the trainer's association with the filly.

Blue Rose Cen is a daughter of Churchill (IRE), a son of the great Galileo (IRE). Pujals bred her in the name of his Spanish Purebred farm Yeguada Centurian SL and it did not take her long to prove Pujals knows what he's doing.

She won her second career start on June 21, 2022 and repeated a month later. Her fourth start, in August at Deauville, pitted her against some tough ones and she came up second, just a short neck behind the Coolmore-owned colt Victoria Road (IRE). Victoria Road, just two starts later, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

Blue Rose Cen stayed in France, winning a Group 3 race at Longchamp in Paris in September and then the prestigious Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) – by 5 lengths -- in October.

She picked right back up in 2023, winning a Group 3 at Longchamp April 16, then taking the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) or French One Thousand Guineas in May. That was good enough to make her the heavy favorite for the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) or French Oaks June 18 and she romped home first by 4 lengths in that Classic.

Blue Rose Cen made her first trip outside France on Aug. 3 at Goodwood, finishing fourth beaten 1 1/4 lengths after a troubled trip in the 1 1/4-mile Nassau (G1) in her initial test against older runners. Back in France at Longchamps on Sept. 10 for the 1 1/2-mile Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1), Blue Rose Cen finished fifth beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Blue Rose Cen was back in the winner’s circle Oct. 1 at Longchamps as she posted a neck victory as the favorite in a field of 11 in the Prix de l’Opera Longines (G1) contested at 1 1/4 miles.