Still Amazing?

One of the success stories of 2015, Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) stages her return on Sunday in Newmarket's G2 Charm Spirit At Tweenhills In 2017 Dahlia S. Having rattled off a trio of major-race wins in the summer, Sir Robert Ogden's homebred came unstuck when only seventh in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September. Previously, her successes in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot in June, G1 Falmouth S. at the July meeting here and G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August stamped her as one of Europe's miling elite. “She's in good form, we're looking forward to running her and hope she has another good season,” trainer David O'Meara commented. “The nine furlongs is a bit of an unknown, but she finished off her race at Ascot over a stiff mile. Ideally, she should be running over a mile, but she's taking on the fillies over the extra furlong so we'll see.”

Another to hit the heights in midsummer before dropping off was Jeff Smith's Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who mastered Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York in August before finishing sixth in both the G1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp the following month and Ascot's G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over a mile and a half. “It's her first run of the season and she normally runs well fresh,” her owner-breeder commented. “It's very difficult. The weather has been so cold, so it's difficult to know exactly what stage she's at. She's pretty well and it will be an interesting race. It's a very good race for this time of the year, but it is 1000 Guineas day so it's fair enough. It's a good starting point.”

Sporting the famous Meon Valley silks is the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was a neck second to the Irish Oaks heroine Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera de Longchamp on Arc day. “Jazzi Top is ready to run. She won over a mile and a quarter at the track last year and this is over a mile one, so we know she will get the trip and handle the track,” trainer John Gosden commented. “I think in France she was outstayed by Covert Love, who showed her battling abilities. It was a very good race between two top-class fillies.”

Rick Barnes' Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) was second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp last May and signed off with a gallant third in the G1 Sun Chariot S. over a mile here in October. “She's done very well. She's matured a lot and is firing on all cylinders,” trainer Martyn Meade commented. “She ran four times last season and I don't like over-running them. She finished on a high. The third in the Sun Chariot was pretty good. I'm pretty excited about the extra furlong. It's an investigation for us to see if she gets it.”