Maria is G1 star for Mastercraftsman

Amazing Maria (4f Mastercraftsman-Messias Da Silva, by Tale Of The Cat) dominated a competitive renewal of the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday when scoring in the colours of breeder Sir Robert Ogden. The David O’Meara-trained filly stepped up on last month’s G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes win at Royal Ascot to capture the Newmarket prize by a length. "She's a proper filly and has got a Group One today, which is brilliant,”said O’Meara. "I was told when she came to me she was a very good filly. She was a wonderful filly at two for Ed Dunlop. Ed rang me up and said she was a Group One filly. "She travelled well today and moved to within a striking position quite easily for James (Doyle). When he went for her she found plenty. It's very special and it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I suppose the Prix Rothschild would be the obvious race for her." Doyle said: “I could only say what I felt on the day at Ascot and I felt she was a class filly. I rode her with plenty of confidence and I knew at halfway it was a game of cat and mouse as we were going real steady. "I knew if I got first jump on them, she's honest and would hit the line well. She goes on this ground, which is a big plus, as it's quick out there.”