2:25 – Newmarket – JAGUAR CARS CHEVELEY PARK STAKES (GROUP 1) (FILLIES) (CLASS 1) (2yo) Good 6f

The Richard Hannon trained Maureen bids to win her third race from four starts at Newmarket this afternoon when she runs at Group 1 level for the first time.  The 2 year old filly by Holy Roman Emperor has done nothing wrong in her three starts and has improved for all of her runs to date.

She made her debut in a Class 4 Maiden race at Newbury in June and put in a very professional performance, cruising clear inside the final furlong to win as easily as she liked by 2 ½ lengths.  She was massively unlucky not to win on her second start when she was pitched in at Group 2 level contesting the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket on the July course.  She was ridden against the rail and her rider, Jimmy Fortune was clearly hoping that gaps would appear but as none came he was forced to take her wide.  She was blocked more than once and when she did manage to get into the clear the winner had taken off.  Nevertheless she ran on with some purpose inside the final furlong and only failed to get up to the winner by a neck.

She made no mistake on her last run at Ascot in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes.  Richard Hughes had her held up behind the leaders and when she took the lead a furlong out she merely had to be shaken up and was well in command inside the last furlong, winning readily by 2 ¼ lengths.  She was impressive in that the race was run at a muddling pace but she soon settled off the pace and came through to win fluently.

The going at Newmarket is Good and as Maureen has so far run in Good to Soft, Soft and Firm ground she should have no problem with underfoot conditions today.  She runs over 6 furlongs again, with all three of her previous runs being over the same trip.

Richard Hughes rides today and the runaway leader of the Jockey’s Championship has won on Maureen both times that he has ridden her and he has already had three winners at Newmarket this week.

With 107 winners in the 2 year old age group already this season, including Havana Gold who won at Newmarket on Thursday, Maureen will be in prime condition for her first run in a Group 1 race after a break of 63 days.  She has an entry in next seasons Irish 1,000 Guineas and she has shown on all three of her runs to date that she is a very progressive filly.  She has not been extended on either of her winning runs and showed great resolve at Newmarket when she did not get a clear run.  Richard Hughes will hopefully keep her out of trouble today and come the final furlong she should be aiming at the front runners before going on to win.