racing news /

Maureen the Newbury Darling
20/04/13

1 Maureen 7/2
2 Agent Allison 7/1
3 Melbourne Memories 12/1
10 ran Distances: ¾l, 1½l, nk
TIME 1m 25.45s (slow by 2.45s)

Maureen produced what looked a smart performance to land the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (registered as the Fred Darling) at Newbury for the Richard Hannon team.

Maureen
© Racehorse Photos

Favourite Rosdhu Queen, who got a little fractious and reared up just before the stalls opened, jumped out in front in a bid to maintain her unbeaten record on her first try at seven furlongs, and the answer to the stamina question two furlongs out looked like it might be positive.

But she began to tread water from there and as soon as Maureen got a gap, she quickened in some style to take charge over a furlong out. Agent Allison stayed on to keep the 7-2 shot honest, but never looked like posing a major threat and the winning distance was three-quarters of a length.

Maureen had been four lengths behind Rosdhu Queen when ninth in the Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in September, the only real blip on a juvenile campaign which saw her win two of her four starts.

Winning rider Richard Hughes said: "Why not take your chance (in the 1000 Guineas)? She stayed better than the rest of them there. I think the ones in front died a bit and she came and won well.

"She's always showed us that little zip, but you would have to ride her conservatively in the Guineas and have one go right at the end."

Richard Hannon junior, son and assistant to his father, said: "We weren't totally sure she would get seven furlongs as she has loads of speed. But she's back. She was very disappointing in the Cheveley Park, when her scope wasn't right.

"She looked like she travelled supremely well, she has loads of ability, will improve and we have to take our chance in the Guineas. We have Sky Lantern too, and it's a shame to run them against each other, but it's the 1000 Guineas and the one we want to win."

Peter Chapple-Hyam said of Agent Allison: "Jamie (Spencer) said he lost his irons in the stalls, so that didn't help. It wasn't really her ground. She'll improve and Mr Hay is in it to run in big races, so she will go for the Guineas."

William Haggas said of Rosdhu Queen: "I thought she didn't stay, but the jockey (Johnny Murtagh) thought she got tired."

Dubai Duty Free Stakes
(Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Fillies' Group 3) (Str)
£60,000 added, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
10 ran