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Maria chasing amazing double

3 minute read

Amazing Maria bids to show her surprise victory in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot was no fluke when she lines up for the Qipco Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

Amazing Maria winning the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Formerly Windsor Forest Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2)
Amazing Maria winning the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Formerly Windsor Forest Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2) Picture: Racing and Sports

Even trainer David O'Meara was not quite expecting the 25-1 shot to take the Group Two honours and has his fingers crossed she can repeat the trick at the top level.

"She's been good since Ascot, she was very impressive down there and I'm hoping it was not just a one-off and that she can go down and be competitive," he said.

"We went down to Ascot with not many runners, a few in the handicaps, so for her to win was great.

"I thought she had more to offer, but I felt if she could finish third behind Integral and Rizeena that would be great. I didn't think she could win it, but she was the best filly on the day."

Euro Charline was withdrawn at the start of the Duchess of Cambridge as she refused to go into the stalls.

Trainer Marco Botti was not expecting that kind of behaviour from the Grade One-winner and has been trying to ensure there will be no repeat.

"Euro Charline has been pleasing me at home. The stiff mile is her ideal trip and fast ground should not be a problem," said Botti.

"I thought that she ran really well in Dubai considering it was not the plan to make the running - she just broke too well and ended up getting a bit lit up. With some cover she would have finished much closer.

"What happened at Royal Ascot came completely out of the blue as, apart from on her two-year-old debut, she has never had an issue. So she was forced to miss a race that had been aiming at for a long time, but it might end up working to our advantage as she will go to the Falmouth as a fresh horse."

Integral was sent off odds-on favourite to repeat her 2014 triumph in the Duke of Cambridge but was a big disappointment, finishing fifth.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare will attempt to redeem herself in another race she won in 2014, subject to her trainer being satisfied with ground conditions, which are riding fast, after watering takes place.

Bawina made a winning reappearance in the Group Two Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud 10 weeks ago when she had the smart Avenir Certain back in seventh.

Since then, connections of the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained filly have been waiting for a suitable opportunity at the top level.

"When you reach her level, they are all good races," said Pierre Yves-Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers.

"We have always liked his filly and it was always the plan to keep her for Group One races after she won so well at Saint-Cloud.

"It is true that she doesn't mind the ground being a bit softer, but we are more concerned about the other horses than the ground.

"She has won before on good ground so that (fast ground) should not matter too much."

Fintry delighted trainer Andre Fabre when capturing the scalp of Avenir Certain in a Group Three at Chantilly four weeks ago and is reported to have been in good shape since.

"I have been happy since her last race," said Fabre.

"She was a little bit short of work for her first run of the year at Newmarket (when fifth to Bragging in the Dahlia Stakes) and she improved to make all the running at Chantilly, beating Avenir Certain, which is good form.

"I don't think she will improve from that run, I think that is as good as she is, but I hope she will run a good race."

Avenir Certain's trainer Jean-Claude Rouget reports his filly to be in good form.

"She is OK, nothing has gone wrong. She has been well prepared and we are hoping she runs a good race," he said.

Fintry is owned by Godolphin who have another leading contender in Lucida.

The Jim Bolger-trained filly has been placed in both her starts this term, finishing second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bolger told the Godolphin website: "Lucida is very well and I couldn't be happier with her."

Arabian Queen thrilled her trainer David Elsworth when taking fifth place in the Coronation and he is looking for another prominent showing on the July course.

She was successful in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at this meeting last year.

"Arabian Queen ran a hell of a race in the Coronation Stakes and I would like to think that she can continue on the upgrade," said Elsworth.

"She has already won at the July Course and copes with any ground. We intend to run her in next month's Qatar Nassau Stakes, where the mile and a quarter will suit her even better, but Friday's stiff mile should be well within her compass.

"I would be happy for her to make the running again as that is the way that she has won two Group races. But she won't do it at all costs - if something comes past her they will probably be going too fast.

"She did have a slight reoccurrence of an old sinus problem for a couple of days after her last start. But we treated her with antibiotics and I am very happy with her again now."


At The Races

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