Maarek still on-course for Royal Ascot Maarek is still on-course for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday next, despite being beaten at Cork yesterday. David Nagle’s sprinting star, was sent off the 4/11 favourite in the Listed Midsummer Stakes at Cork, but he never appearing to be travelling and despite hitting the front in the final furlong, he was easily picked off by Cape Of Approval, finishing a length and three parts second. Despite the defeat, the six-year-old son of Pivotal, who has nine wins to his name, is still on-course to take his chance in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot on Saturday and his trainer said this afternoon; “We were a bit disappointed, but the race didn’t pan out well for him. “It was a muddly race with no pace and he is very vulnerable when he is in front. He doesn’t do a stroke in front and he was there to be shot at. "He had a bad drawn as well and he loves to be stuck in the middle of the field and do his own thing for the first couple of furlongs. "We are hoping for a bit of rain now before Ascot on Saturday."
