Amazing Maria is set to try to continue her Group 1 winning spree in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 3rd October.
David O’Meara’s brilliant four-year-old is part of a stellar 35-strong initial entry for this £250,000 one mile fillies and mares contest, which will be the sixth of seven races in the Mile Division of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
The entry includes both a remarkable ten individual Group 1 winners plus the first three home from this race 12 months ago – Integral, Miss France and Fintry.
The Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes has been a prime target for overseas raiders in recent years – the trophy has been exported five times in its last seven runnings – and this trend could easily continue, as ten of the entries hail from France and another ten come from Ireland.
Should a home-trained filly come out on top, one of the most likely candidates is Amazing Maria, who followed up her superb Group 1 QIPCO Falmouth Stakes victory at Newmarket’s Moet & Chandon July Festival with a brilliant triumph over the Coronation Stakes heroine, Ervedya, in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville just two days ago.
“Amazing Maria’s next race could well be the Matron Stakes [in Ireland on 12th September] and it is very much the intention for her to then run in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes provided she is fit and well,” said O’Meara.
“She arrived back from Deauville at Monday lunch time and seems fine. I would say that the Prix Rothschild was her career best performance – she beat a very good filly in Ervedya and yet it was her easiest win to date.”
“It’s just brilliant to have such a good filly in my yard and we are all very grateful to Sir Robert Ogden [her owner-breeder] for sending her here.”
“She might eventually step up to beyond a mile but if she does so I suspect it will not be until the Breeders’ Cup.”