Wednesday 30th September 2009
Head-Maarek seeks a 'Special' victory
A fantastic renewal of the £170,000 Group 1 Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes (2.30pm) is on the cards with nine classy fillies declared for the six-furlong showpiece at Newmarket on Friday, 2nd October, including crack French raider Special Duty.
The Khalid Abdulla-owned juvenile will attempt to give trainer Criquette Head-Maarek her fourth success in the race following on from Ma Biche (1982), Ravinella (1987) and Pas De Reponse (1996).
Special Duty has twice mixed it with colts this season, coming out on top to win the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte in July and then finishing a short-neck second to Arcano in the Group One Prix Morny over six furlongs at Deauville on 23rd August.
Head-Maarek revealed today: “Special Duty is very well. She is travelling tomorrow and will arrive in Newmarket around 9.00am. The ground will be no problem to her, she will be happy on any ground.
“Her form with Arcano looks very good; she is a nice filly and has done extremely well since her last race. There are nine runners and it looks to be a good race, as always.
“My record in the race is not too bad - I have had the chance to train good fillies. Special Duty has a lot of speed and I think she would be a mix between Ma Biche and Ravinella.”
Head-Maarek is hopeful that the filly might return to Newmarket in May for the Stan James-sponsored 1000 Guineas, a race in which Ma Biche (1983), Ravinella (1988) and Hatoof (1992) have triumphed for the trainer.
She said: “In her pedigree there is quite a lot of stamina, so if she could stay next year, why not? It depends what we decide to do but the 1000 Guineas is a possibility if things work out. I would love to do it again, that’s for sure.”
Brian Meehan, successful in the 2004 and 2005 renewals of the Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes with Magical Romance and Donna Blini, respectively, is set to saddle Lady Of The Desert, winner of the Lowther Stakes.
The Clive Brittain-trained Misheer, who won the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket in July, is also in the nine-strong field - as are Albany Stakes scorer Habaayib, Flying Childers winner Sand Vixen, Shamandar, Song Of My Heart, Puff and Nimue.
Gimcrack Stakes winner Showcasing is among five high-class colts who will contest the £183,400 Group 1 Shadwell Middle Park Stakes (3.05pm) on he same card.
He faces stiff competition in the shape of highly-touted Irish raider Arctic, an unbeaten Group Three winner, while fellow competitors Awzaan, Poet’s Voice and Radiohead have each landed notable Group 2 contests.
