One is the NBA legend who is on a mission to spread the word of racing; the other is a true footballing great, every inch a thoroughbred.

Tony Parker and Thierry Henry have formed a firm friendship down the years and they will break new ground together on Sunday when heading to Newmarket to watch the 1000 Guineas, the second Classic of the English flat season.

Parker – who owns Ramatuelle, a leading candidate for the 1000 Guineas – has been determined to bring famous faces in racing and a couple of years ago convinced Formula One driver Charles Leclerc to buy a share in a horse.

Whether it will get that far with Henry remains to be seen but the prospect of the pair being on the Rowley Mile has increased excitement in the town about the occasion and even left Christopher Head, who trains Ramatuelle in Chantilly, feeling a little star-struck.

Head comes from regal breeding; his father, Freddie, his aunt, Criquette, and grandfather, Alec, trained a number of horses that became all-time greats. 

Friends Tony Parker (C) and Thierry Henry at a NBA game in San Antonio, Texas in 2019

The 37-year-old has memories to last a lifetime but deliver a 1000 Guineas success for Parker would, he says, be something incredible.

‘What I love about being a trainer is that I have access to plenty of people who have had a lot of success in life – and then want to have (success with) horses,’ said Head. ‘I always have this privilege to be able to talk to them and ask them: “What are the ingredients to success?”’

Few are better qualified than Parker to answer this question. A four-time NBA Champion with San Antonio Spurs who was inducted to the basketball Hall Of Fame, he reached levels that were so good his team retired his No 9 jersey in honour of his achievements.

He is now president of the French team ASVEL Basket but he is obsessed with racing. His dream would be to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but, first, the 1000 Guineas would be huge to collect on the way and Ramatuelle certainly has an excellent chance – she is 8/1 with Betfair.

‘We are really happy with her,’ says Head, a man who is so committed to self-improvement he has started to learn Japanese. ‘She is full of energy and knows how to put it all into action. It will be a strong field but when you come to racing in England, you are taking on the best in Europe.’

A dashing juvenile who won a number of important races, Ramatuelle was beaten on her season reappearance last month but the ground was horrible and Head was thrilled with what he saw; he’s also been reassured to receive regular observations from Parker.

‘Tony, he has got team sport in mind at all times,’ said Head, during a QIPCO press conference. ‘He wants the people around him to have the best success possible. It was important for me to advice from him. He is an athlete and I am training athletes.

‘It gives me an idea of what to do with the horses – and with the staff that I have around me. Tony has always been a very good advisor. Having Ramatuelle together in that corporation, is something special for me.

‘I’ve never had the luck to talk at length with Thierry yet. It will be the first time I meet him when we get to the Guineas. Tony is the man I have most access to. Meeting Theirry will be new and I cannot wait. It’s going to be something special.’