French filly lands first Group One for Observatory

The Criquette Head-Maarek-trained African Rose (Observatory - New Orchid, by Quest For Fame) has been away from from home for over a week, having travelled to Haydock for last week's abandoned Group One Sprint Cup. The race was rescheduled to Doncaster on Saturday and the delay proved no impediment to the Observatory three-year-old, who powered home to land her first Group One.

African Rose was fractious leaving the paddock, and Stephane Pasquier settled the Juddmonte homebred behind runners in the stands side group as, on the far side, Corrybrough tackled Ancien Regime to take the lead a furlong and a half from home. Henry Candy's colt was no match for the French filly though, as African Rose powered home, taking the lead half a furlong out. Bold Edge colt Assertive - a Group Two winner in May - was another to finish strongly from off the pace, taking second, beaten only half a length. Utmost Respect took third. Equiano burst through the stalls and was withdrawn.

Twice Group-placed as a juvenile, African Rose came to prominence with a Longchamp Listed win in May. She was then fourth in a Group Three before showing markedly improved form when a fine second to Marchand d'Or in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month.

Winning trainer Criquette Head-Maarek said: "Last Saturday when I was told Haydock was off I did not know what to do because she is not a great traveller.

"It is very difficult to keep horses on the go like that, but she was kept in an isolation yard at Newmarket and we were very lucky that Henry Cecil provided us with a very good lead horse.

"There are not many more options available to her now so she'll either have to step back in trip for the Prix de l'Abbaye or we'll go for the Breeders' Cup, but that will be left up to the Prince.

"She may need time off because a race like that will have taken a lot out of her. The Prince will decide whether she stays in training next year."