Newbury: Olympic Glory wins Group 3 Greenham Stakes; Maureen takes Group 3 Fred Darling

Trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes ruled the 3-year-old stakes action this week in England, with Olympic Glory winning the Group 3 Greenham Stakes and Maureen the Group 3 Fred Darling on Saturday at Newbury, two days after Toronado captured the Group 2 Craven at Newmarket.

Olympic Glory is not as highly regarded as stablemate Toronado but continues to win, with his one-length score over longshot pacesetter Sir Patrick Moore marking his fifth victory from six races. Making his first start of 2013, Olympic Glory was ridden vigorously more than a quarter-mile from the finish of the seven-furlong, straight-course Greenham, eventually overtaking Sir Patrick Moore.

The well-backed Moohaajim’s run flattened out in the final furlong, leaving him the third-place finisher. Olympic Glory, timed in 1:26.14 on a course rated good to soft, is reportedly bound for the French 2000 Guineas, as his owners already have Toronado for the English version of that race.

After two wins – the second in Group 3 competition – from three races at 2, the filly Maureen concluded her juvenile campaign with a subpar ninth-place finish in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes in September, a race won by Rosdhu Queen.

Rosdhu Queen was favored to win the Fred Darling on Saturday but had no late spark after setting the pace for the first six furlongs and wound up fourth. Hughes, meanwhile, stayed in touch with the leader for most of the trip, making his move on Maureen in the final 1 1/2 furlongs and holding clear Agent Allison to win by three-quarters of a length, with Melbourne Memories third.

The winning time for the seven-furlong race was 1:25.45. Maureen is expected to make her next start in the English 1000 Guineas.