Head-Maarek plays down Gold’s hopes

CRIQUETTE HEAD-MAAREK has a strong family record to defend but is not expecting Full Of Gold to overturn hot favourite New Approach in Saturday’s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Head-Maarek’s father Alec Head, who owns the colt, trained two winners of the 10-furlong contest in Hafiz II (1955) and Rose Royale II (1957), while his daughter was responsible for the 1993 heroine Hatoof.

French trainers in general do very well in the Champion Stakes – the last two renewals have been taken back across the Channel – and Andre Fabre’s Russian Cross occupies a prominent position in the betting.