Special ready for classic duty

CRIQUETTE Head-Maarek has admitted to having stamina doubts ahead of Special Duty’s run in Sunday’s StanJames.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Winter favourite for the Classic, the filly was beaten on her return to action this year in the Prix Imprudence but came through her final gallop with flying colours on Tuesday morning.

While Head-Maarek has no doubts that her charge will improve significantly from that performance – indeed her last 1000 Guineas winner Hatoof lost in the same race – she does confess to being unsure whether Prince Khalid Abdullah’s three-year-old will see out the trip.