Duty aims for Guineas double Criquette Head-Maarek bids to land an audacious English/French 1000 Guineas double for the second time in her training career when she saddles Special Duty at Longchamp on Sunday. The French trainer took both Classics with Ravinella in 1988 and is happy to go for the Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches with Special Duty. She is back on home soil after being awarded the Newmarket Classic in the stewards' room after finishing a nose behind Jacqueline Quest. "I did the Guineas double with Ravinella and they are quite similar, both honest horses, of small size with a big heart and are big fighters," said the Chantilly trainer. "This filly showed plenty of battling qualities at Newmarket and I hope she can do so again. "She's fine, she looks well and she looks fresh so we are going to go to Longchamp. "She seems to have taken the race at Newmarket very well. "We are drawn 10 out of 10 on Sunday. That's not the best draw because the mile start at Longchamp is very close to the turn. "That won't be an excuse. If she's well enough she has a good chance." The trainer's comments were echoed by Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah. He said: "Special Duty did a nice little breeze on Thursday morning and Criquette was very pleased. "She had quite a tough race at Newmarket but has come out of that very well. "She got the train back to France and was in her box by 10pm that night. "Even if she had been trained in Malton she wouldn't have been home any earlier and she's been in good form since then." The owner is also represented by Full Steam, who opened her account at the second attempt in a conditions race at Chantilly last month. "Full Steam is a nice Oasis Dream filly and won a B race in Chantilly very impressively by three lengths," Grimthorpe added. "She's a real improving filly and while this is a step up, Andre (Fabre) does like her." Joanna had Special Duty back in third place in the Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte last month and connections are hopeful Jean-Claude Rouget's runner can repeat the trick. "It will be different ground to when they last met," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. "As I've said before, the horses trained in Pau had an easier winter and spring than those in Chantilly, so I'm sure Special Duty needed it more than Joanna. "Equally though it was her first run of the season and hopefully she can confirm the form. "We decided to wait for the French Guineas after that run and the ground should be pretty good for her."
