Kevin Stott added to his earlier success on the card this afternoon when Olivia Maralda showed a bright turn of foot to land the Listed Surrey Stakes.
Kevin Stott added to his earlier success on the card this afternoon when Olivia Maralda showed a bright turn of foot to land the Listed Surrey Stakes.
A runner-up in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at two she finished seventh on her first start for the Roger Varian team in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month.
The pace looked frantic early, and Kevin Stott was happy to bide his time in the middle of the pack. A frustrated Oisin Murphy looked to be travelling strongly on the 7/4 market leader Holguin approaching the two-furlong pole but was perhaps made to pay by sitting so close to some sharp early fractions. The eye was soon drawn to Olivia Maralda and Kevin Stott as the pair swept on by to record an easy two-and-a-half length success. Eve Johnson Houghton, who won the opener on the card, saddled the third-place horse Streets Of Gold.
It was a first victory on Epsom Derby weekend for connections of AMO Racing who will be hoping King Of Steel can spring a surprise tomorrow having also switched to Roger Varian in recent months.
The trainer, Roger Varian spoke to Racing TV after the success and said:
"She was good today, wasn't she. She ran very well in the Guineas (1,000) and ran well for a long way and found 1m on soft ground on Guineas Sunday a bit tough. I thought she ran well that day and we were hopeful coming here back to 7f on fast ground she would run very well"
"She could be versatile in terms of trip because she relaxes very well and a good turn of foot.
"How good she looked today, 7f maybe is her best trip"
"I might consider going to Ascot (Royal meeting) and the Jersey, might be her race."
