Maria Amazes again in the Falmouth Stakes

Amazing Maria (right) bursts clear of the Falmouth field under James Doyle

Amazing Maria added the Group 1 QIPCO Falmouth Stakes to the Duke of Cambridge Stakes under James Doyle for trainer David O’Meara. Marco Botti’s Euro Charline and French raider Avenir Certain filled the second and third spots respectively.

Amazing Maria was the outsider of the field when she won at Royal Ascot, and she was underestimated in the market once again today with just two of the seven strong field available at bigger prices at the off.

The race itself was run at what looked like a very slow pace, with Arabian Queen taking them along early. Jockey James Doyle, alert to the sedate gallop, brought Amazing Maria to the fore inside the two furlong pole and she was able to quicken clear smartly, also avoiding the traffic in behind which stopped the likes of Lucida from running her race.

Doyle was not surprised to win on Amazing Maria again, he said after the race: “People thought it was a fluke at Ascot, I felt she was a class filly, I rode her with confidence today”.

Trainer David O’Meara said: “Ed Dunlop told me when we got her that she was a Group 1 filly. She moved into striking position easily and was able to find plenty.”

O’Meara sited a possible trip to France for the Group 1 Prix Rothschild, also over a mile, for Amazing Maria’s next target, where she would likely re-oppose the majority of the French fillies she faced today.

Many of the other jockeys felt their horses would have benefited from a stronger gallop, none more so than Christophe Soumillon, whose mount Avenir Certain is effective at distances up to a mile-and-a-half.

The sprint finish and close proximity of the rest of the field mean that Amazing Maria will not have vastly improved on the Timeform Rating of 116 that she achieved in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. Nevertheless, she took advantage of a good opportunity in some style and will be a contender in similar races for the remainder of the season.