Maureen best in Fred Darling

Richard Hannon's dominance of the Guineas trials continued as Maureen (7/2) claimed the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

Hannon saddled Nell Gwyn second Sky Lantern and Craven winner Toronado earlier in the week and landed a second trial with this victory in the Group Three contest registered as the Fred Darling Stakes.

The unbeaten Cheveley Park Stakes winner Rosdhu Queen took the field along but, with doubts about her stamina, Johnny Murtagh was keen not to commit for home too early.

She had challengers on both sides before Murtagh kicked for home at the furlong pole but the Invincible Spirit filly failed to quicken and she was swamped inside the distance.

Maureen had tracked her market rival before quickening to the front but she was soon joined by Agent Allison who had come from the very rear of the field to lay down a strong challenge.

It momentarily appeared as though Peter Chapple-Hyam's filly would sweep past but Maureen eventually won a shade cosily under Richard Hughes with the winning margin three quarters of a length.

Melbourne Memories finished a length and a half back in third with Rosdhu Queen only fourth.

Maureen had been four lengths behind Rosdhu Queen when ninth in the Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in September, the only real blip on a juvenile campaign which saw her win two of her four starts.

The winning rider said: "Why not take your chance (in the 1000 Guineas)? She stayed better than the rest of them there. I think the ones in front died a bit and she came and won well.

"She's always showed us that little zip, but you would have to ride her conservatively in the Guineas and have one go right at the end."

Richard Hannon junior, son and assistant to his father, said: "We weren't totally sure she would get seven furlongs as she has loads of speed. But she's back, she was very disappointing in the Cheveley Park, when her scope wasn't right.

"She looked like she travelled supremely well, she has loads of ability, will improve and we have to take our chance in the Guineas.

"We have Sky Lantern, too, and it's a shame to run them against each other but it's the 1000 Guineas and the one we want to win."

Sky Bet cut the winner to 10/1 from 25s for next month's Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Chapple-Hyam said of Agent Allison: "Jamie (Spencer) said he lost his irons in the stalls, so that didn't help. It wasn't really her ground. She'll improve and Mr Hay is in it to run in big races, so she will go for the Guineas."

The connections of Rosdhu Queen were undecided about whether a lack of stamina was to blame for her defeat with trainer William Haggas saying: "I thought she didn't stay, but the jockey (Johnny Murtagh) thought she got tired."