Maggie to miss Guineas

Wake Up Maggie will miss the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas in likely preference to a Listed prize at Newmarket on Saturday.

The forecast testing conditions at the Curragh means Chris Wall’s filly, fifth behind Speciosa in the English equivalent, will miss Sunday’s Group One event.

Although the Cheveley Park Stud King Charles II Stakes at Headquarters remains the contingency plan for the three-year-old, Wall hinted that the daughter of Xaar may instead head to France if there is a deluge of rainfall in the next few days.

“With the ground looking soft, and possibly heavy with further rain, we shall stay at home with her,” said Wall.

“She is engaged in the Listed King Charles Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday and, if we don’t get too much rain, she may well take her chance in that.

“She’s also engaged in a race in France (the Prix de Sandringham) at Chantilly on French Derby day (June 4).

“If conditions go against us this weekend, and things come up in her favour in France, we might go there instead.”

Wall was happy with Wake Up Maggie’s performance at Newmarket but admitted he is still none the wiser as to whether a mile is her best trip.

“She probably wasn’t able to show her best form in the ground but put up a very creditable performance,” he added.

“On the evidence of that race she didn’t stay a mile – but was that just because of the ground or because she didn’t stay?

“We want to get her on ground that is very much in our favour and see if we can answer that question some time soon,” the Newmarket-based handler told At The Races.