Rosdhu Queen Makes All in Cheveley Park

By Myra Lewyn

Rosdhu Queen maintained her unbeaten record after making all the pace to win the Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 29 at Newmarket.

With three wins from as many starts entering the race, her perfect record appeared in jeopardy heading into the Dip as familiar opponent Baileys Jubilee briefly threatened, but Rosdhu Queen lengthened stride when urged on by Johnny Murtagh and surged clear in the final 100 yards to prevail by a length.

Listed stakes winner Winning Express, supplemented to the race at a cost of approximately $24,240 (15,000 British pounds), overtook Baileys Jubilee late to take the runner-up spot by a scant nose while seeking to remain unbeaten herself in three starts.

Trainer William Haggas was delighted with the win by Rosdhu Queen, who was guided along the rail for the win before completing the six furlongs in 1:10.11 on turf rated as good. He speculated that she might be a candidate for next season's One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), also at Newmarket.

"She was on the rail and she wasn't getting any hassle," he told England's Press Association. "She's pretty fast, but maybe she'll mature over the winter. It's a quick mile here and maybe she should take her chance in the Guineas."

Rosdhu Queen's perfect win skein includes the about five-furlong Bathwick Tyres St. Hugh's Stakes Aug. 17 at Newbury, followed a week later by the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes (Eng-II) at York in which she defeated Baileys Jubilee by 1 3/4 lengths and demonstrated to Haggas she could handle the added distance.

"I didn't think she'd stay six (furlongs) in the Lowther," Haggas added, "but she went again when she needed to. Whether or not she's a Guineas filly I don't know, but why not?"

Maureen, the 2-to-1 favorite with Racing Post, finished ninth after encountering traffic two furlongs out.

Trainer Mark Johnston, who won the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (Eng-II) with Steeler one race earlier on the card, said Baileys Jubilee would go straight to the Guineas.

Campaigned by Clipper Logistics, Rosdhu Queen was purchased by bloodstock agent David Redvers for $155,249 out of the Grove Stud, agent, consignment at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up sale in April. She is among 61 stakes winners by Invincible Spirit, who stands at the Irish National Stud and is represented this season by two other group I winners: Moonlight Cloud in France and Mayson in England.

Rosdhu Queen, who was bred in Ireland by Old Carhue and Graeng Bloodstock, is one of five winners from as many starters out of French group III winner Green Minstrel, by Green Tune.