No Problem Maria

Having conquered the varying tests of Royal Ascot, Newmarket’s July meeting and Deauville August, the aptly-named Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) takes to Dublin on Saturday to continue her bid for world domination in the G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. at Leopardstown. Whereas her victory in the June 17 G2 Duke of Cambridge S. was a turn-up, the follow-up wins in the July 10 G1 Falmouth S. and Aug. 2 G1 Prix Rothschild were confirmation of the quality that Sir Robert Ogden’s homebred had hinted at during her juvenile campaign. Having mastered the 3-year-old Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the latter contest, she can enter this match with that generation’s leader Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) with more than hope. “It’s a good race, but we’re looking forward to it,” trainer David O’Meara commented. “She’s going there in good form and she has form on slower ground as a 2-year-old, so we wouldn’t be too worried if they get some rain. Legatissimo is obviously a good filly, but Amazing Maria beat the star 3-year-old filly in France last time, so we’ll see what happens.”

Michael Tabor’s Legatissimo, who has shone in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 3 and the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time Aug. 1, ironically put in her one slightly disappointing effort on home soil when second in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 28, and it may be that she is one who thrives on overseas travel. What is beyond question is the fact that she is one of the best of a strong set of sophomore fillies, and if taken strictly on face value the merit of her comprehensive success in the 10-furlong Nassau–which contained the subsequent G1 Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–makes her the one to beat in this strong renewal. Jockey Wayne Lordan is keen on her chances of toppling the year-older Amazing Maria. “She’s been a revelation and has improved all year and been unlucky in the Pretty Polly and the English Oaks,” he said. “She just didn’t get the rub of the green, but she really stepped forward at Goodwood where she won the Nassau very impressively, and her form has been franked at York since with the fillies taking on the colts.” Lordan gave a warning about the prospect of easy ground, however. “The year started off in Leopardstown when the ground was pretty soft in the Guineas trial, and she didn’t handle that,” he added.”

Of the remainder, only Team Valor’s 2014 GI Beverly D. S. heroine Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has pretensions of troubling the two main protagonists on the form book, with just a length separating her and Amazing Maria when she was runner-up in the Falmouth. Her latest fourth in the latest renewal of the Arlington feature leaves her with something to find, but trainer Marco Botti is customarily optimistic that she can make her presence felt. “She came out of the race in America really well,” he said, before issuing another in a long line of going concerns. “We are worried about the ground. We don’t know how much rain they’re going to get, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” he added. “The rain seems to be a bit hit and miss, so I hope they don’t get too much. It’s a competitive race, but I know she is up to this level.” If significant rain arrives, one of the outsiders who could have a squeak is J P McManus’ Iveagh Gardens (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who upset Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when last seen in the May 4 G3 Athasi S. staged on heavy ground over seven furlongs at The Curragh.