Tag Archive for: Azure Blue

Washington Heights taking Duke of York challenge next week

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Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights has the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes on his agenda as he bids for more sprint success.

The four-year-old started his season on a high in the Group Three Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month, securing a three-quarter-length victory over Mill Stream in a field of well-proven sprinters.

The performance built on a productive three-year-old campaign for the gelding, who claimed prize-money far exceeding his £24,000 purchase price when taking the Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship in Sweden and collecting a string of placings in valuable sprint handicaps.

Included was a six-furlong York contest where he was beaten only a head by Stuart Williams’ remarkably consistent Quinault, a run on the Knavesmire that add to his narrowly-beaten effort as a two-year-old behind Shouldvebeenaring in the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes.

Those two runs bode well for his next assignment, which will be the Group Two Duke of York over the same course and distance.

“We’ve always liked him and he’s a bigger, stronger horse this year,” Ryan said.

“He came out of Newmarket in great form and is training very well at home.”

Washington Heights is owned by Hambleton Racing and has represented them well throughout his career so far, running 13 times and only finishing out of the money once.

Hambleton’s Simon Turner said: “Kevin has few peers with his sprinters and has brought Washington along with typical skill and patience.

“He took his form to another level in the Abernant and everyone is looking forward to the Duke of York now.

Kevin Ryan's Washington Heights (centre)
Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights (centre) (Tim Goode/PA)

“To have a horse with a chance in one of the feature races of York’s Dante meeting is a massive thrill for his owners, a good number of who have been owners with Hambleton for 10 years or more.

“Given his good York form we’re optimistic for a big run. He certainly won’t lack for support!”

Michael Dods has two entrants, with Azure Blue and Commanche Falls both possible after finishing first and third last year.

Azure Blue defeated Highfield Princess by half a length, with Commanche Falls a further length and a quarter behind in third.

Azure Blue has been seen just once since when finishing sixth in the July Cup, but after overcoming a few issues she is being prepared to make her seasonal bow back on the Knavesmire.

Azure Blue winning the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes
Azure Blue winning the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (left) (Mike Egerton/PA)

“She had a bit of a setback with her feet and then she had ulcers, which finished her early. She seems fine now,” said Dods.

“Obviously, it’s a long time since she last ran but we’re happy with her.

“Unless we have any problems between now and next week, the plan is to definitely come to York.

“We probably could have done with another few weeks before the race, but it is the right race to set her off in. Whatever she does there, she will come on a lot for the run.

“We’ve been quite easy on her, but she looks great. Paul Mulrennan sat on her yesterday and was pleased with her. She is where we want her to start, but there’s a lot of improvement after the race.”

Of his other runner, Dods added: “Commanche Falls ran well in the race last year. At the moment, he would definitely be running as well.”

Also among the entries is Karl Burke’s Spycatcher, a fine campaigner for Highclere Racing who has been in the money in numerous Group-class sprint contests throughout his career so far.

Second by three-quarters of a length to Washington Heights in the Abernant, the gelding also has form in the Duke of York as he was second to Highfield Princess in 2022.

“It would very much the plan to run, but he is very ground dependent – we wouldn’t run him on anything faster than good ideally,” said Harry Herbert of Highclere Racing.

“We’d like to see a bit of rain around as I don’t think he would run on faster ground.

“He’s in great form and working so well, we’ll be keeping everything crossed that he will be able to compete because he seems better than ever, which is exciting.”

Burke has three further chances in Swingalong, Marshman and Cold Case, with William Haggas’ Montassib, Tim Easterby’s Art Power and Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream other familiar names on the list.

Sea Just In Time powers clear at Newmarket
Sea Just In Time powers clear at Newmarket (Adam Davy/PA)

Also on day one of the Dante Festival is the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, which has a rich history of producing serious Classic contenders.

The last two runnings of the 10-furlong Group Three have gone to the John and Thady Gosden yard, and the Clarehaven operation will have another leading player this year in the shape of Pretty Polly winner Friendly Soul.

Haggas, meanwhile, has entered a fascinating filly in the shape of Sea Just In Time, a daughter of Sea The Stars who created a real impression in winning her maiden at the first time of asking at Newmarket.



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Azure Blue camp eyeing York return for comeback spin

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Azure Blue has the defence of her 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes title pencilled in on the calendar as Michael Dods prepares his star speedster for her impending return to action.

The five-year-old appeared to be on a real upward curve in the sprint division around this time last year and followed up a Newmarket Listed win over Heredia on her reappearance by claiming the scalp of the ill-fated Highfield Princess in the York Group Two 12 months ago.

That Knavesmire victory signalled her intentions to compete at the highest level but although she got a first taste of Group One action when finishing sixth in last summer’s July Cup, niggling injuries kept her on the sidelines for the rest of the 2023 campaign.

She is now working towards a return to the track, with her trainer setting his sights on again tackling some of the season’s most prestigious sprinting events.

However, the first port of call is a return to York on May 15, with Darlington-based Dods pleased with how her preparations are going.

“The plan is to go straight to York and we’re on track for that and we’re happy with her,” said Dods. “She’s working nicely and she looks great at the moment.

“The plan is to be in all of those top sprints this year and we’re happy with her, and she’s working nicely. We’re just making steady progress until we get her on the track.

“Hopefully that will be at York, that’s the plan.”



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Azure Blue team turn thoughts to next term

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Michael Dods will be targeting major prizes with Azure Blue next season, having seen the campaign of his improving sprinter come to a premature end.

The four-year-old – who found the scoresheet four times in 2022 – made a blistering start to the season, winning a Listed event at Newmarket before claiming the scalp of Highfield Princess in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.

She was subsequently saved for Newmarket’s July Cup where she finished sixth but has not been since, having suffered a foot injury which has kept her on the sidelines and ruled her out of tilts at both the Nunthorpe and Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup.

Sights were turned to Qipco British Champions Day, but having lost the battle to fully prime the daughter of El Kabeir for Ascot action, Dods is now relishing the prospect of Azure Blue returning in 2024.

He said: “She’s fine, we just ran out of time to get her back for British Champions Day so we’ll leave her now and she will back.

“We’re looking forward to next season now.”

When asked if she will be campaigned as a Group One sprinter next season, Dods added: “That will be the plan, I would say so definitely.”



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Azure Blue to be aimed at Champions Day

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Michael Dods will target Qipco British Champions Day with his star filly Azure Blue after ruling her out of a potential outing this weekend.

The four-year-old made a flying start to her campaign, with a comeback victory in Listed company at Newmarket followed by a narrow defeat of Highfield Princess in the Duke of York Stakes.

She was sixth when stepped up to Group One level for the July Cup and subsequently missed an intended tilt at the Nunthorpe at York after suffering a minor foot problem.

Azure Blue could have returned this weekend in either Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock or the Flying Five at the Curragh on Sunday, but Dods has again had to put plans on hold.

“We’ve had a bit of an issue. She seems all right now, but we just didn’t think she’d be ready,” said the Darlington-based trainer.

“She had the foot problem before York and then she had a bit of an ulcer problem and we just had to deal with it.

“We’re happy enough with her, she just wouldn’t have been ready to run this weekend.”

Azure Blue will now either contest the British Champions Sprint on October 21 or be roughed off until next season.

Dods added: “If we didn’t have her for Ascot we probably wouldn’t be bothering, I’d probably leave her and have her ready for the start of next season. That would be the plan.

“It’s disappointing, but there’s always another day and we’ll just have to wait until we see her at 100 per cent.”



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Nunthorpe an ‘obvious’ opportunity for Azure Blue

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Michael Dods says the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes is the “obvious race” for Azure Blue and it is “all systems go” for a York showdown with reigning champion Highfield Princess.

The four-year-old started her season by winning Newmarket’s Ellen Chaloner Stakes before heading to the Knavesmire where her match-fitness enabled her to account for John Quinn’s stable star in the Group Two 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes.

She was too keen in the early stages when a below-par sixth in the July Cup next time, but Darlington-based Dods is keen to head back to the Knavesmire for what is sure to be a hot contest and a rematch with what he is expecting to be a much better version of Highfield Princess.

“At the moment we’re thinking of going to York and the Nunthorpe,” said Dods.

“We’re pulling her back a furlong and it will be very competitive if the two-year-olds come in and also Highfield Princess was so impressive at Goodwood.

“We had had a run and Highfield had not when we met before and she’s obviously come on a lot from then.

“But it is the obvious race and at the moment the plan is to go there.”

Mecca's Angel winning the Nunthorpe at York in 2016
Mecca’s Angel winning the Nunthorpe at York in 2016 (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Mecca’s Angel famously went back-to-back for Dods in 2015 and 2016, while the handler has also seen Mabs Cross rattle the crossbar in the five-furlong dash in 2018 and another of his mares, Que Amoro, pick up a silver medal behind Battaash in 2020.

However, Azure Blue will be running over the minimum five furlongs for the first time in her 15-race career when she bids to add her name to the roll of honour.

“We’re travelling into the unknown,” added Dods.

“They will go a hard gallop and hopefully she will be fine. We’re into the unknown a bit, but it’s worth a try.

“We’re looking forward to it and at the minute it is all systems go.”



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Dods favouring Curragh contest for Commanche Falls

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Michael Dods’ Commanche Falls could be set for a Curragh return after his tough success in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

The six-year-old is enjoying a fine season and was third in the Duke of York before winning the Listed Dash Stakes at the Irish track in early July.

That run set him up for a Group Three outing in the Hackwood at the weekend, though wet weather left the ground softer than ideal as he left the stalls the 4-1 favourite.

The gelding did not look to be enjoying conditions early on under Connor Beasley, but as the race reached the final furlong, he edged through a gap to lunge over the line in a group finish.

Commanche Falls had prevailed by a head from Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry and could now head back to the Curragh as he holds an entry for the Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes in August.

Commanche Falls (right) coming home to win the bet365 Hackwood Stakes
Commanche Falls (right) coming home to win the bet365 Hackwood Stakes (Adam Davy/PA)

“He’s been out in the paddock every day since, he’s eaten up and he looks good,” Dods said.

“The ground really wasn’t to his liking as you could see, he looked beaten at halfway but Connor switched him and asked him a few questions and he showed a lot of guts and bravery to go through the gap and put the race to bed.

“There didn’t look to be a lot of a gap but he dug very deep, he showed his guts to get through it and win.

“He’s been unbelievable to be honest, he keeps surprising us. He never does anything the easy way because he’s usually the first horse off the bridle.

“He looks beaten and then he digs deep, once he gets into gear he motors to the line.”

Commanche Falls and Connor Beasley after winning the Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Dash Stakes
Commanche Falls and Connor Beasley after winning the Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Dash Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

Of the Curragh trip, which would be dependent on suitable ground, Dods added: “That is the plan, all things being well. I don’t think I would travel over there if it was very soft ground, we’d have to have a rethink.

“All things being well and on decent enough ground, the plan is to go there in August.”

Dods also has another classy sprinter in Azure Blue, who beat Commanche Falls and Highfield Princess to land the Group Two Duke of York on the Knavesmire in May.

The grey then headed for the July Cup at Newmarket but came home sixth under Paul Mulrennan having pulled hard in the early stages.

A York comeback could be on the cards now as the filly holds an entry for the Group One Nunthorpe over five furlongs in late August.

Azure Blue (left) beating Highfield Princess at York
Azure Blue (left) beating Highfield Princess at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’ve given her an easy week, I thought she ran a bit free at Newmarket. Whether it was the sticky ground or what, but she seems well,” said Dods.

“She’s been out in the paddock and we’ll probably start her off this week again cantering and build her up to go again.

“I’ve got to discuss with the owners, she’s got quite a few entries, so we’ll have to decide where to go but she’s in good fettle anyway.

Of the Nunthorpe entry, the trainer said: “It’s definitely in the picture, she’s got other entries as well but I’d like to think she could end up going there.”



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No rush for Dods to map out Azure Blue aim

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Michael Dods reports his star filly Azure Blue to be none the worse following her disappointing performance in the July Cup on Saturday.

Having rounded off last season with back-to-back wins at Newmarket, the four-year-old picked up where she left off with a Listed success on the Rowley Mile in early May.

She subsequently got the better of multiple Group One winner Highfield Princess to land the Duke of York Stakes and as a result was among the leading contenders for last weekend’s Group One feature, but could only finish sixth of eight runners.

“She was on the wing, probably racing a bit keenly, but she’s come home fine,” said Dods.

“On the day she probably didn’t run her race, but she’s been fine since she came home anyway.”

The Darlington-based trainer is keen to let the dust settle before committing to future plans. Azure Blue’s big-race entries include the Nunthorpe at York, the Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Flying Five Stakes in Ireland.

“We’ll give her this week and see where we go next – we haven’t made any plans,” he added.

“One of the owners has gone on holiday so we’ll wait until they get back next week, discuss it with them and go from there.”



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Dods has July Cup in mind for York winner Azure Blue

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Azure Blue is on course for the July Cup at Newmarket, as long as the ground is suitable for Michael Dods’ new sprinting star.

The four-year-old is on a steep upward curve, winning four of her last five races, the most recent of which was in the Group Two 1895 Duke of York Stakes.

She beat Highfield Princess there, albeit in receipt of 5lb, and with John Quinn’s mare performing with extreme credit in both the King’s Stand and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the form looks strong.

“Azure Blue is in the July Cup and that is the plan as long as the ground doesn’t firm up,” said Dods.

“She is in good form and obviously it will be a tough race, but the plan is to go to Newmarket with her. She seems to love it at both tracks at Newmarket (three wins on the Rowley Mile and one on the July course to date).

“She didn’t go to Ascot and part of the reason for that was that the entries closed too soon so we came up with the plan of going for the July Cup.

“Had she had a run before the entries closed at Ascot then we would have probably entered her, but then it went pretty quick so whether she would have run is questionable.

“I think at the moment the speediest horse we had was Mecca’s Angel, but at this stage of her career I would put her up there with the best of them like Mabs Cross and Mecca’s Angel.”

Commonwealth Cup one-two Shaquille and Little Big Bear, older horses such as Kinross and Art Power and the likes of Lezoo and Meditate, remain in the mix.

A total of 19 stood their ground, although the American-trained Big Invasion was subsequently scratched, leaving 18.



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Azure Blue swoops late to grab Duke of York crown

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Azure Blue outbattled defending champion Highfield Princess to claim her fourth straight victory in a thrilling edition of the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.

The four-year-old had won three of her last four outings last term and following a reappearance victory in the the Kilvington Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, she extended her winning streak on the Knavesmire to lead home a fantastic one-three for Darlington-based handler Michael Dods.

There was plenty of pace on show in this six-furlong affair and as the runners entered the business end, it looked like John Quinn’s Highfield Princess was about to pick up from where she left off last term.

However, Paul Mulrennan aboard Azure Blue was always lurking dangerously in her shadow and having drawn alongside in the final furlong, the duo edged their way to the front as the winning post loomed.

Half a length separated the pair at the finish, with Azure Blue returned the 12-1 winner and stablemate Commanche Falls a further length and a quarter adrift in third.

Dods said: “She’s done nothing but improve since the end of last season. We didn’t feel we had her ready at Newmarket as she’d had a few issues, nothing serious but we just didn’t feel we’d got the work in. She went there and did it well and I knew there was improvement to come.

“It was a big step up to go from a Listed mares’ race to today, but looking at the calendar there wasn’t a lot else coming up in the short-term, which is why we came here.

“I think today she’s shown she’s a proper Group One horse.”

Azure Blue is not entered in either the King’s Stand or the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, but Dods – who memorably claimed back-to-back wins in the Nunthorpe at York with Mecca’s Angel – did not rule out supplementing if conditions in Berkshire are in her favour.

He added: “I don’t know where we’ll go now. Because today was the start of her career really in these races, we hadn’t made any plans and didn’t have her in some of the early-closing races.

“I wouldn’t be frightened to come back to five furlongs with her on slow ground, so there’s plenty of targets for her and a lot to look forward to.

“You would have to look at that (Prix de l’Abbaye), that would be on my radar, but we’ll have to see what we do in between times.

“She’s not entered (at Royal Ascot) so we’ll discuss and see. I’m not sure what the supplementary price is and we wouldn’t want to run on ground any faster than today, so we’ll make a decision nearer the time.

“Mecca’s Angel was different, she was all speed and everything was five furlongs. This filly set off at six, but she’s getting that speed a bit later on now as a four-year-old. She is in that class.”

Of Commanche Falls, Dods said: “I thought he ran a super race. It was a big step up in class. The pace of the race helped him but the run was excellent – I couldn’t fault it.

“To have the first and third in what is really a Group One is tremendous for everyone involved.”

Highfield Princess (red) had to give best to Azure Blue
Highfield Princess (red) had to give best to Azure Blue (Mike Egerton/PA)

Quinn was thrilled with Highfield Princess’ reappearance effort, particularly as the mare had to concede weight all round.

He said: “Nobody knows from year to year if a horse is going to maintain its ability, especially going from five to six (years of age) for a mare, so we’re delighted.

“She showed all her old enthusiasm there and she always come on for her first run of the season so we’re very pleased.

“We’re as pleased as one can be without winning as she carried a Group One penalty there.

“It will be Group One sprints all the way now, so she won’t be giving that weight away.

“I think looking at that today it will be the King’s Stand at Ascot over five as she’s got speed to burn.

“If we’re lucky she’ll go down the Group One five-furlong route, so the King’s Stand, Nunthorpe, Flying Five and the Abbaye.

“We’re delighted because she showed all her enthusiasm.”

The contest was marred by the death of Charlie Appleby’s Group One winner Creative Force, who sustained a fatal injury.

In a statement on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “We are very saddened with the passing of Creative Force, who was a real yard favourite at Moulton Paddocks.

“It’s a very sad day for everyone at Godolphin to lose a horse who always wore his heart on his sleeve and put up great performances year after year. We would like to thank William Derby and all his team at York for handling a difficult situation with speed and compassion.”



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Azure Blue shines in Chaloner contest

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Azure Blue continued her love affair with Newmarket in the Howden British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes.

The Michael Dods-trained filly returned to Headquarters unbeaten in two previous outings on the Rowley Mile, while she also has a victory at the July Course on her CV.

Making her first appearance since landing the Boadicea Stakes in October, the four-year-old was a 7-2 joint-favourite to claim another Listed prize and after travelling powerfully to the lead, she had kept enough up her sleeve to repel the late challenge of her market rival Heredia by half a length.

Dods said: “We’ve been delighted with her at home and she was fit enough to run, but we do think there’s quite a bit of improvement to come.

“Paul (Mulrennan) had ridden her in a few bits of work and was very happy with her and she does seem to have speeded up a lot since last season.”

Azure Blue holds an entry in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York on May 17, but is not certain to make the trip to the Knavesmire.

“It was an early closing race so we put her in it. I’ll speak to the owner and see,” Dods added.

“She’s a big filly who wouldn’t want the ground too fast, so where she goes will depend on the ground.”

Charlie Appleby’s King Of Conquest denied the King a winner on his coronation day in the nine-furlong Howden Suffolk Stakes.

The winner was a 7-1 shot to supplement a winter success in Bahrain and knuckled down for William Buick to deny Frankie Dettori aboard Saga by a head.

Appleby said: “He’s a horse who ran well to finish second here in soft ground last year and when he won in Bahrain, Richie (Mullen, jockey) said he hated the ground and was crying out to step up in trip.

“Today the plan was to be positive on him as I was confident with the ground and I was confident with the way that William was going to ride him that they’d have to outstay him.

“We haven’t really planned beyond this, but I’d say he’s a good handicapper – he’s going to have to improve a good bit to be a black type horse.”

Probe claimed a lucrative victory at Newmarket
Probe claimed a lucrative victory at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

Probe (15-2) provided trainer Jennie Candlish with her first Newmarket winner in the £100,000 Howden Handicap under Kieran O’Neill.

Candlish’s partner and assistant, Alan O’Keeffe, said: “I’m happy because he’s a proper horse, he’s always showed us that.

“We thought he was better than his rating. We haven’t got many Flat horses, but Jennie does a good job with them, whether they’re three-mile chasers or six-furlong sprinters.

“These are the places you want to be and it’s great for a yard like ours.”

Teumessias Fox won the opening race at Newmarket on Saturday
Teumessias Fox won the opening race at Newmarket on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)

A 10lb rise in the weights for was not enough to prevent Andrew Balding’s 100-30 favourite Teumessias Fox making it back-to-back wins in the Howden Handicap.

The four-year-old bolted up on his first start since being gelded at Kempton in March and followed up with a comfortable three-and-a-quarter-length success in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Balding said: “He’s a horse we thought a lot of last year, he ran in a Derby trial at one stage and sort of lost his way after (Royal) Ascot.

“He’s been gelded and had a good break and I think we’ve learnt he wants his races spaced out.

“Hopefully he doesn’t go up too much to get into one of the Ascot handicaps. I would have thought the mile and a half (Duke of Edinburgh Stakes), but we’ll probably put him in the Copper Horse as well.”



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