Maureen

Just as she had been in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Maureen was probably the most unlucky horse in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh on Sunday.

She adopted a nice early position from stall three, but Richard Hughes seemed to be happy not to be too prominent, which made sense but, in taking a pull off the leaders’ heels, she just got squeezed out of it just as they rounded the elbow. She was shuffled back even further a few strides later as the field all bunched up towards the far rail, and that knocked her right back through the field.

No better than fourth last passing the three-furlong pole, she still travelled well, much better than most, but she had her run blocked twice as she tried to pick up, firstly with two furlongs to run and secondly just over a furlong out. Eventually her rider took her to the outside going inside the final furlong and she finished really well under hands and heels to get up for sixth place, having come from an impossible position.

The Richard Hannon-trained filly was unfortunate not to finish closer at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas on her previous run, she saw plenty of daylight early on as the field raced in slightly separate groups for the first couple of furlongs and, having tucked in when the groups merged, she had to wait for Moth to pick up before she could make her move, and that wasn’t instantaneous. She was brought to the near side but got a little unbalanced heading into the Dip and so was switched back between horses and finished best of all through the final furlong.

It is often the case that you make your own luck, that when a horse is unlucky once or twice, he or she will continue to be unlucky. It may be just down to a style of racing or a lack of pace to take gaps when they arise. However, there is no doubting Maureen’s pace, and, on the evidence of her last two runs, there is little doubting her stamina for a mile. She deserves another chance.

She could be a filly for the Coronation Stakes now around a bend, which should suit her style of racing and her turn of foot. She remains interesting and will probably be at least a little under-rated now having been well beaten in both Guineas. She could be a decent price for the Coronation Stakes if she takes her chance in the race, with both Sky Lantern and Just The Judge apparently on track for the race.

26th May 2013