Tag Archive for: Bluestocking

Arc victor Bluestocking retired to stud

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Juddmonte has announced the retirement of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking.

The Camelot filly won five of her 13 starts for the leading owner-breeder and trainer Ralph Beckett, also enjoying Group One success in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and the Prix Vermeille in France en-route to landing Europe’s premier middle-distance prize on her return to Paris earlier this month.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said in a statement: “Bluestocking has given so much enjoyment over the last three seasons and we thank Ralph Beckett and his team at Kimpton Down Stables who have done such an excellent job with her.”

While Bluestocking and the top-class American mare Idiomatic will commence broodmare duties in 2025, Juddmonte’s Champions Day winner Kalpana will remain in training next season.

The three-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for trainer Andrew Balding and connections will aim for more top-level success in 2025.

Douglas Erskine Crum, Juddmonte’s chief executive, said: “It is not often that Juddmonte has had three outstanding fillies and mares at the same time and, as the season draws to a close, we have had some important decisions to make.

“Idiomatic retired last week after a minor injury kept her from attempting a repeat of her win in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff this Saturday. She won five Grade One races and was the leading filly and mare in the USA for the past two years.

Kalpana winning on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot
Kalpana winning on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)

“Bluestocking has been the leading four-year-old filly in Europe this year and the two together bring further outstanding quality to our broodmare band both in the UK and the US.

“Kalpana will continue to race for us next year and is clearly an exciting prospect.”

On a day of announcements for the team, Juddmonte also revealed it’s 2025 European stallion fees, with the superstar racehorse and sire Frankel to stand for £350,000.

Bated Breath’s stud fee is £8,000, Chaldean’s is £25,000, Kingman will stand for £125,000 and Oasis Dream for £15,000.

Mating plans for Bluestocking and Idiomatic will be decided at a later date.



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Decision on future for Arc heroine Bluestocking yet to be made

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The future of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking is still to be decided by owners Juddmonte – but it has been confirmed the ParisLongchamp champion will not run again this year.

It has been a fine season for Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old who has taken her form to the next level and was winning her third Group One of he campaign when claiming Europe’s richest middle-distance crown under Rossa Ryan.

That victory would be the perfect way to put a full stop on the filly’s on-track career, but having proved better than ever in the French capital the temptation is now there to return at five in search of further riches.

It is a call that is still to be decided by the daughter of Camelot’s owners, but further action this term either on Qipco British Champions Day or at the Breeders’ Cup has been ruled out.

“She’s in great form. Ralph has said she hasn’t stopped eating since she has come home, she’s jogging up well and is doing great,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“Ascot would be off the table as we have Kalpana and Time Lock for Ascot and we will sit down now with the owners and make a plan as to whether she will stay in training or be retired.

Bluestocking has won three times in 2024
Bluestocking has won three times in 2024 (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’d say she is done for this year. The owners think she has done enough and were not keen on Del Mar, so we will put her away now and have a discussion and see what we’re going to do.

“It will be the owners’ decision, they will decide and either way we will be happy.”



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Rossa Ryan feeling ‘on top of the world’ after Arc win

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Rossa Ryan is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning jockey the day after Bluestocking ensured the pair will always have a place in history.

Ryan delivered the Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old perfectly, sitting just off Ryan Moore and Los Angeles through the first half of the race before moving up menacingly with three furlongs to run.

A strong stayer at a mile and a half, despite winning the Pretty Polly in Ireland over 10 furlongs earlier in the season, Bluestocking confirmed the form of her Prix Vermeille win over Aventure when holding off the same rival by a length and a quarter.

Speaking to Racing TV at Pontefract having won on Beckett’s Sir Dinadan, Ryan said: “It’s a bit surreal to be honest, I woke up a very happy man this morning, I was on top of the world.

“It all went perfect but it came from the way she broke, I needed her to jump really well for me and she did, after that it was smooth sailing.

“When Ryan came over on Los Angeles, I thought ‘brilliant’ because that meant I had one of the main protagonists in front of me and he gave me a nice lead.

“I was able to sit on her in the false straight and that gave me some leeway before I pulled her out and made my challenge without having to force my way out – and the rest is history.”

Despite finishing second in the Irish Oaks and on Champions Day at Ascot, Bluestocking ended last year with just a novice stakes win to her name as a two-year-old.

She has thrived at four, however, winning the Middleton Stakes at York, the Pretty Polly at the Curragh, the Prix Vermeille and now the Arc.

Rossa Ryan returns with Bluestocking
Rossa Ryan returns with Bluestocking (PA)

“Three out, she lit up and when Sosie and them came around me, she lit up better than ever, she’s never done that under me – she was ready for yesterday, Ralph and the team had her absolutely spot on,” Ryan went on.

“There were a few in the pre-parade getting hot and a bit upset but she never turned a hair and took it like a champion – it was a dream come true.

“You have to admire the way Ralph has campaigned her, it’s been a bit like John Oxx with Sea The Stars, once a month, but this is her third run in nine weeks and she fired better than ever.

“I know a lot of the French trainers were saying theirs would come on from their runs in the trials but it was only three weeks out from the biggest day of their careers and the Vermeille form stacked up, Aventure came through with me again.

“I’m pinching myself, I still think it’s a dream. To have my parents there (was brilliant), a lot of my friends came over too. It was brilliant watching the media write her off all week, the more I got into the form, the more I thought I had a stronger chance – and she didn’t let me down.”



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Monday Musings: Gloom?

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There’s so much gloomy navel-searching about all the things that are perceived to be wrong with racing in the UK, but it took only a couple of days in Paris to dispel them, or some of them anyway, writes Tony Stafford.

True, the statistics are invariably distorted by first place in the £2.4 million to the winner Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – something which wouldn’t have been allowed to happen in pre-supplementing days – by Ralph Beckett’s remarkable filly Bluestocking, but in overall terms the home team took a real hiding.

Four wins for the UK, via Brian Meehan, the Gosdens and Ed Walker, as well as Beckett, matched Aidan O’Brien’s personal quartet over the two days. The French, on home soil with everything - even down to the going in their favour - limped behind with three.

Aidan also collected the £100k-plus Arqana sales conditions race on the first day and front-running Los Angeles picked up just shy of half a million for his third in the Arc. Once more, though, it was fillies to the fore, Bluestocking confirming Prix Vermeille form with Aventure, edging a half-length further away than in the trial three weeks earlier.

I’ve always found the fillies’ Group 1 on Trials Day much more significant than either the Prix Niel for 3yos or the Foy for the older colts. Those two races had five runners each last month, whereas the Vermeille had a field of 12.

The Arc 1-2 had some smart performers behind them that day: Emily Upjohn, Stay Alert and last year’s champion juvenile filly Opera Singer were the next three home. The races for the boys were remarkably similar, each run at more than four seconds above standard, a full three seconds slower than Bluestocking in the Vermeille.

Ralph Beckett has been relentless closing on the top training positions over the past few seasons and his comment, “I couldn’t see any reason not to supplement her,” epitomises his pragmatic approach to training.

Of course, as with all the big stables, and he had 183 listed in this year’s Horses In Training, there is a margin for error. When the year began, Bluestocking had won only once, on juvenile debut in September 2022. Since the summer, it has been a roller-coaster of ever greater success.

I had a look at the overall prizemoney earned by each of three major European horseracing and breeding superpowers over the weekend. Although Aidan got off to a flyer winning three Group races, including Kyprios’s second Prix du Cadran over 2m4f on day one, the momentum wasn’t quite maintained.

Yesterday, the lesser fancied of his two Jean-Luc Lagardere runners, Camille Pissarro, echoed the late-running performance on the first day of 25/1 shot Grateful. The similarity? Both were ridden by Christophe Soumillon with Ryan Moore on the first string. Ryan had the consolation of three €100k plus wins on day one, the third in the valuable conditions event put on by the Arqana sales company. And his third place on Los Angeles in the Arc earned him his jockey’s share from around half a million.

The overall Irish haul not including the Arc was around £675,000. The French on home soil amassed just over £800,000 for their non-Arc runners, while UK horses collected more than £1.22 million for 22 places. When you add in the Arc money, the GB total thanks to Bluestocking is more than £3.67 million; the French total comes to approximately £2.15 million and Ireland – almost entirely via the Coolmore runners was close to £1.3 million. So the UK stables picked up better than half the available money!

Even though the French had many more runners in the additional races than either UK or Ireland, they retained barely 30% of the money available. If we’re in trouble, how about them?

Those from the big teams cannot rest. After a day today looking at stock in the Tattersalls sales barns, Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale starts tomorrow, three days when 448 yearlings – blue-bloods all, but which cannot all turn out to be talented – go under the hammer.

The sale nowadays closely echoes the example of the Goffs Orby sale in Ireland, staged last week. That also commences with a Book 1 for the top stuff and Book 2 for the rest. A later sale offers less expensive pedigrees.

It’s amazing how the decisions of a sales company can make such a difference to the prospects of a borderline Book 1/Book 2 yearling. It’s simply the difference between whether an owner is to get a decent price for his/her sales candidates. Book 1 over there had 466 lots going under the hammer over two days. Of those, 399 (80%) found new owners at an average price of €128k.

The two days of the similarly populated Book 2 proved far less attractive to buyers with only 332 of 449 changing hands, that’s 70%. If that was significant, the average price of €20k was disturbing for many stud owners, especially pin hookers who will have struggled to match foal prices never mind a year’s costs.

One well-known trainer who was happy to pick up a horse from Book 1 at a fair price, did not look at any of the stock in Book 2. “It’s okay to buy them just because they are cheap,” he said, “but you have to find someone to pay for them and to have them trained.”

I canvassed a few trainers some weeks ago as it was proposed by friends to buy a horse in training. They were all middle-range but talented trainers and they were all somewhere around £60 a day (plus VAT of course). So, we’re already up to at least £500 a week, with extras like shoeing, vet charges and transport to the races. In Newmarket and many other training centres, there is also a gallops fee levied.

On Friday, the day after the conclusion of Book 1 and three days before Book 2 where most owners will not have to worry much about the likes of Godolphin, Coolmore, Amo Racing and rest to find a yearling, there are more than 750 lots to wade through. Smaller catalogues for Books 3 and 4 next week conclude as the runners for the Cesarewitch, Dewhurst and the rest go to post next weekend.

Newmarket’s first day stages a race which illustrates just how tough and frankly absurd UK’s horse racing economics are for all bar the super-rich – or those lucky enough to get a superstar for not much money.

The opening maiden of that Friday’s card has a prize of just more than £10k, much better admittedly than some that have been run on the Rowley Mile recently. Many were bought at this time last year, so at around a minimum £2,500 per month that’s at least £30,000 to get to this stage on top of their purchase price.

The happy winning owner on Saturday will receive approximately 70% of the £10,000 first prize, less jockeys’ fees and transport to the course. Sixteen of the 30 entries went through the ring, home-breds making up the remaining 14.

The cheapest of the sales group cost £45k – bought by our friend Sam Sangster and trained by Brian Meehan. The most expensive was £400k for a newcomer from Aidan O’Brien. The average - going for a £7k pot I emphasise - was 135k.

Talking of Sam Sangster and his link with Brian Meehan, Manton's longest-serving present incumbent had a Royal Ascot double this June with Rashabar (Coventry Stakes, Group 2) and Jayarebe (Hampton Court Stakes, Group 3). They had only one run each in the meantime, Rashabar when second in the Group 1 Prix Morny to Whistlejacket, and Jayarebe, also second at Deauville, to Economics. They came to Longchamp with high hopes.

Jayarebe did the business on Saturday in the Group 2 Prix Dollar, making all, while Rashabar was caught only in the last few strides of the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere by Camille Pissarro, the aforementioned O’Brien second string ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Rashabar will aim at the 2,000 Guineas next spring while it would be no shock if Jayarebe pitched up at the Breeders’ Cup. Meehan won the Turf race there a decade or so ago with Dangerous Midge, who raced in the same Iraj Parvizi colours. Parvizi only came back to the stable after a break of several years with his purchase of Jayarebe.

There were two other notable efforts over the weekend that caught my eye. Apollo One, so often the bridesmaid in big sprint handicaps, gained a first Group-race win at Ascot on Saturday. Peter Charalambous, his owner/trainer/breeder had been frustrated at being beaten close home in the Wokingham, Stewards’ Cup and Portland handicaps this year, but on ground Pete believed he wouldn’t handle, he did, winning almost as he liked.

Secondly, another working on the wrong surface was Hughie Morrison’s Mistral Star, third in Saturday’s Group 1 Prix Royallieu where she was in front until the last 50 yards. I’m confident she would have won on faster ground.

Finally, last week I mentioned Joe Lee and his filly May Day Ready. The pair, with the help of Frankie Dettori in the saddle, got the best of a wafer-thin three way photo (centre, see below) on Friday in the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, a Win And You're In for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Exciting times!

- TS



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Beckett savours Bluestocking’s record Arc success for Juddmonte

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Ralph Beckett reflected on an “extraordinary” afternoon in Paris after Bluestocking carried the Juddmonte colours to a record seventh victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

There are few silks more famous than those of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah, with some of the greatest equine names the sport has ever seen carrying the green, pink and white with distinction in the world’s biggest races.

Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986), Rail Link (2006), Workforce (2010) and the brilliant dual Arc heroine Enable (2017 and 2018) have all struck gold in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest, quite a list for Beckett’s superstar filly to join.

“It’s extraordinary really. I grew up watching Rainbow Quest and Dancing Brave, so to train a winner in these colours is a huge thrill,” said the Kimpton Downs handler.

“It’s a privilege to train for Juddmonte and to train an Arc winner for them as well is extraordinary.”

Bluestocking was just a yearling when Abdullah died at the age of 84 in January 2021. She was a winner on her only start at two and showed top-class form in defeat at three, but few would have marked her as a potential Arc winner until as recently as three weeks ago.

The daughter of Camelot was brilliant in winning the Group Two Middleton Stakes on her seasonal bow and broke her Group One duck in the Pretty Polly in Ireland.

However, she was clearly second best behind the remarkable Goliath in the King George and a fourth-place finish in a Juddmonte International won by City Of Troy had connections thinking Bluestocking might be best served going back against her own sex.

Bluestocking passes the post in front
Bluestocking passes the post in front (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

There was, though, a change of of heart following her never-say-die success over the Arc course and distance in last month’s Prix Vermeille, prompting the Juddmonte team to pay the €120,000 supplementary fee to book her ticket back to the Bois de Boulogne for the big one.

Beckett added: “I think after York we were going to go back to fillies only, but obviously she won what looked a strong Vermeille at the time and that gave us encouragement to come here.

“The fact that she really enjoyed the ground here three weeks ago was a positive as well and the fact that she came through that test was another positive.

“We were slightly taking it on trust that we could get her back for the Arc. It went pretty smoothly at home, but mostly because we didn’t ask her any questions – it was all about her well-being really.

“She came here in good form and I was pleased with the way she looked in the preliminaries. She’s just a real professional as she knows what’s required and has worked it out for herself, which makes our job a whole lot easier.”

Rossa Ryan celebrates with connections after winning the Arc
Rossa Ryan celebrates with connections after winning the Arc (AP/Michel Euler)

Beckett is no stranger big-race success, having enjoyed Group One and Classic glory at home and abroad.

Asked about his emotions as Bluestocking approached the winning line in Paris, he said: “I was expecting something to come and run her down late, as happened last year with Westover (finished second to Ace Impact).

“She actually hit the front earlier than Westover did and it’s a long straight, so that’s always a concern, but it was going to take a good one to go by her as she doesn’t give in easily.”

In contrast to Beckett, Rossa Ryan is still a relative newcomer when it comes to winning at the top level, with his maiden Group One victory aboard Shaquille in last year’s July Cup followed up by his two on Bluestocking earlier this season.

The Galway-born jockey has now proved his worth on the biggest of stages, though, with the more positive tactics employed three weeks ago again working a treat.

Ryan said: “When I dissected the form I was fairly confident, but I wasn’t confident enough to tell anyone!

“She fulfilled what I thought she possibly could and I’m just the lucky one to have been on her. There’s a lot of people involved that have done a lot more work than I have, I’m just here in front of you.

“In the Vermeille, being drawn where we were opened doors to us and it’s probably won us the Arc really and truly. The draw was key and she’s been jumping and settling well and once I got in behind Ryan (Moore, on Los Angeles) I got into a great rhythm and from there I had every chance to win, but at the same time we had to see what was really there and she didn’t let us down.

“To be honest, I was just praying to get to the line. She quickened and quickened well and kept going. She did it well, but for me it was just getting to the line as quickly as we could and thankfully we did.”

What the future now holds for Bluestocking remains to be seen, with connections keen to enjoy this landmark success before deciding on their next move.

“It’s unbelievable and a huge relief,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“More often than not, it (supplementing) doesn’t work out, but if Ralph was happy the owners were very keen to do it and he gave us the green light on Wednesday morning and it’s been a dream since.

“What’s next for her, I don’t honestly know. We discussed during the year that this could be her final season racing, but the owners will ultimately decide that in the next few weeks.

“For Juddmonte, Prince Khalid’s whole ethos was female bloodlines and broodmares. To win Juddmonte’s seventh Arc with a filly is very, very special.”



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From Los Angeles to Paris – O’Brien has designs on another Arc

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Los Angeles leads Aidan O’Brien’s bid for a third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Third in the Derby to illustrious stablemate City Of Troy and winner of the Irish version at the Curragh later the same month, he then won the Great Voltigeur with a penalty.

Los Angeles was dropped back in trip for the Irish Champion Stakes next and finished well for fourth when a length and a quarter behind William Haggas’ Economics.

That run sealed O’Brien’s decision to send him to Paris, with the St Leger at Doncaster left for his stablemates to contest in his absence, although the prospect of soft ground meant stablemate Auguste Rodin stayed at home.

Speaking after watching Illinois win the first Group race of the weekend O’Brien – whose two Arcs have come with Dylan Thomas (2007) and Found (2016) said: “The ground is plenty soft – it’s plenty slow with a lot of moisture in it.

“When we landed I was kind of half-sorry for taking out Auguste Rodin, but when I walked out on the track I’d say it was yielding Irish ground/good to soft English ground. Ryan (Moore) says it’s plenty soft and he was very happy that it was the right thing.

“Los Angeles and Continuous shouldn’t mind it. Los Angeles is in good form and everything has gone well with him since last run.

“We’ve been very happy with Los Angeles since the Irish Champion Stakes. We were hoping if he finished in the first four that would be good enough to run in the Arc and that’s what he did.

Los Angeles (right) winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes
Los Angeles (right) winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

“After the Irish Derby we knew Los Angeles could be a Leger horse, but we had other horses for that as well so we started to think of the Arc then.

“We went to York to get a run into him when he won with a penalty over a mile and a half and we came back to a mile and a quarter after that. It’s been the plan for a long time with him.”

O’Brien also runs Continuous, who will be the mount of Christophe Soumillon after horse and jockey teamed up to finish third in the Prix Foy over course and distance last time out.

He added of his other runner, who was fifth in 2023: “Continuous is the same, the last day wasn’t ideal as he would have preferred not to make the running, but it was only a trial and he needed that race and he’ll be better taking his time.

“We’ve trained him with an autumn campaign in mind. Last year it was a slowly-run race but we were happy with his run, we always had it in mind that he would be better this year and hopefully prepare better for the race.”

Al Riffa at the Curragh
Al Riffa at the Curragh (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

O’Brien’s son Joseph will saddle Al Riffa, a son of Wootton Bassett who was runner-up behind City Of Troy in the Eclipse and then won the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin by five lengths at Hoppegarten last time out when stepping up to the Arc trip.

“I was very proud of the performance in Germany and I have always thought, with the extra distance, he really did look like he was better for it,” said O’Brien, whose colt will be ridden by Japanese great Yutaka Take.

“This race has always been a good prep race for the Arc and we thought that it was good for him to go there as a fresh horse. He is versatile in terms of the going.

“He had a busy first half of the season and that is why we made the decision after Germany to keep him fresh. It is no bad thing to have had a run at Longchamp, but it will be a completely different experience in the Arc.

“The Arc is one of the biggest races in the world and it is special just to have a runner in it with a live chance.

“We are looking forward to it and we are going to enjoy the race and the whole experience. If we were lucky enough to win it, it would be right up there with anything I have done before.”

Bluestocking was supplemented by Juddmonte
Bluestocking was supplemented by Juddmonte (Mike Egerton/PA)

Bluestocking, trained by Ralph Beckett, was a supplementary entry after winning the Prix Vermeille last time out.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “She produced a career-best in the Vermeille and she was tough and gutsy and I think she likes a little bit of ease in the ground.

“She also likes to get into a battle and she had all of that the last day and it was a great performance.

“We’re hoping it will be third time lucky, it is the third year in a row ourselves and Ralph will have been to the Arc, twice with Westover and now with Bluestocking, so hopefully we get lucky.”

It is no secret the Arc is greatly revered by the Japanese and this year their hopes are pinned to Shin Emperor, who made his first start in Europe when a gallant third in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Shin Emperor (left) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown
Shin Emperor (left) in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (Healy Racing/PA)

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said: “He was not yet in his top form when he was in Ireland and I thought that race was going to be very hard, so when he finished third we were very encouraged by that run.

“Because the ground in Ireland was all right, the horse didn’t actually have a very tough race and was not too tired afterwards. Since then we haven’t been excessive in either way, he hasn’t had a lot of work and he hasn’t been completely off work.

“It looks very open, but there are many good horses in there. I can’t really pick out one horse who I fear as an opponent, they are all very good horses and you have to have some luck in running to win this race.”

French-born David Menuisier will be represented by Sunway, third in the St Leger and the runner-up of the Irish Derby in June.

“We’d been mulling over with (co-owner) Guy Pariente whether to go for the Arc, and it seems to be the case of now or never,” the Pulborough-based handler said. “Especially as the horse is flying at the moment having been in good form all year. There’s no reason not to go for the Arc.

“Sunway deserves to take his chance and he goes there with a fighting chance of being in the money, and the colt also has every right to win the race. He finished very close to a horse of the calibre of Los Angeles and he will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

“He is one of the toughest horses I have ever trained, and he never stops giving his best.”



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Bluestocking and Sunway carry British hopes as Arc draw confirmed

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Bluestocking and Sunway will represent British interests in the 16-strong field for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

Drawn in stall three, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking was supplemented for the Group One spectacular on Wednesday at a cost of €120,000 for owners Juddmonte, having landed the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance last month.

David Menuisier’s Sunway was a winner at the highest level as a juvenile but has failed to hit similar heights this term, most recently finishing third in the St Leger, and will have to contend with an outside draw in 15.

Prix du Jockey Club victor Look De Vega (eight) is at the head of the betting, despite suffering defeat at the hands of the reopposing Sosie (five) in the Prix Niel when last seen.

The latter is one of three contenders for trainer Andre Fabre with Mqse De Sevigne, winner of each of her four starts this term including three successive Group Ones, and Sevenna’s Knight also taking part.

Mqse De Sevigne will race from widest of all in stall 16 and Sevenna’s Knight will be in 12.

Aidan O’Brien is represented by Irish Derby victor Los Angeles (10) and last year’s Leger hero Continuous (14), but has taken out Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg. His son Joseph fields Al Riffa (nine), winner of a German Group One last time out.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Shin Emperor (11) is the latest Japanese runner to bid for Arc glory, with Delius, Aventure, Fantastic Moon, Zarakem, Survie and Haya Zark completing the field.



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Top filly Bluestocking added to Arc field

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Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking has been supplemented for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

It has cost her owners Juddmonte €120,000 to add the four-year-old to the field but after two Group One wins already this season, they felt it was a chance worth taking.

Bluestocking was a course and distance winner last time out in the Prix Vermeille, and finished second against the boys in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in August.

Her owners have already seen their famous pink, green and white silks carried to victory in the race by Rainbow Quest, Dancing Brave, Rail Link, Workforce and Enable twice meaning one more victory would take them clear of Marcel Boussac as the most successful owners in the race.

Beckett himself finished second with Westover in the Juddmonte colours 12 months ago.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon said: “It’s exciting and she is in good form. Ralph has had a good look at her this morning, she cantered and had all her tests done and he was very happy with her condition.

“We feel she is in good form and we’re very much looking forward to Sunday. It’s going to be a tough task, but she’s a filly who runs her race every time and hopefully she will do so again on Sunday.”

A total of 18 remain in contention for Europe’s showpiece race with Aidan O’Brien taking out Opera Singer. She has also been removed from her other option in the Prix de l’Opera but Auguste Rodin still holds an Arc entry ahead of the final declaration stage on Thursday.



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Bluestocking on course to be supplemented for Arc bid

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Ralph Beckett has given the green light for Bluestocking to be supplemented for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next week.

The winner of two Group Ones already this season, the Pretty Polly at the Curragh and the Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp, she will be aiming to go one better than Westover, who finished second to Ace Impact for Beckett 12 months ago.

Having proved her suitability to the course and distance of Europe’s premier race, her owners Juddmonte will have to part with €120,000, but after impressing connections in a workout on Saturday, they have been persuaded to have a go.

“She’s very well, I’m happy with her,” said Beckett.

“If she’s in the same form on Monday and Tuesday, and if the forecast is correct for France, then we will supplement on Wednesday.

“I don’t want to make a decision until I have to and the French system gives us an extra couple of days, but w’re very pleased with her.”



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Bluestocking sees off all-comers in Prix Vermeille

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Bluestocking set herself up for a potential tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a never-say-die display in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp.

Ralph Beckett’s top-class filly made a flying start to her campaign with an impressive victory in the Middleton Stakes at York before breaking through at the highest level in the Pretty Polly in Ireland.

She had to make with minor honours on her next two starts, filling the runner-up spot behind Goliath in the King George before finishing fourth to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International, but got back on the winning trail in determined fashion against her own sex.

Ridden by Rossa Ryan, the 9-4 favourite tracked the pacesetting Halfday for much of the mile-and-a-half contest before taking over early in the home straight.

She was challenged and briefly passed by Aventure racing inside the final furlong, but battled back bravely to double her top-level tally.

John and Thady Gosden’s Emily Upjohn ran with credit in third, with the front trio clear of Hughie Morrison’s Stay Alert in fourth and Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer in a slightly disappointing fifth.

Trainer Ralph Beckett at York
Trainer Ralph Beckett at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Of the winner, Beckett told Sky Sports Racing: “I thought she was beaten, she looked beat didn’t she, but she’s just really tough.

“She worked really well last weekend, but I wasn’t convinced that coming was the right decision. There were a couple of things in the week that I wasn’t just (happy with), not with the race or the circumstances, more with her, but she really loves it and that showed today.”

Paddy Power cut Bluestocking to 8-1 from 16-1 for the Arc, and Beckett confirmed Europe’s premier middle-distance contest as her likely target.

“She’s in the fillies’ and mares’ race on Champions Day. We got beaten there last year because it was on the inner track and she didn’t get going in time. For that reason, if she is well and connections are happy, I’d be keen to supplement in three weeks’ time to come back for the Arc,” he added.

“She won the Middleton the day after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe closed and at the time she wasn’t even a Listed winner, so that’s why she isn’t entered.

“But I think today really suited her and when they’re enjoying racing as much as she is, it makes sense to carry on, so I’d be keen (on the Arc) if everybody else is keen.

“I sincerely hope the ground isn’t as fast as it was last year for the Arc and if it isn’t, hopefully she’ll be right in it.”

O’Brien, who was at the Curragh, said of Opera Singer: “I only saw it from halfway through the race. She was probably back a bit further than I thought she would be so she must have been slow away. I missed the first half of it.

“She did keep coming. I didn’t get to talk to Christophe (Soumillon) yet. The ground was a little bit on the soft side and mightn’t have been 100 per cent ideal, but I haven’t talked to him so I don’t know.”

John Gosden was pleased with Emily Upjohn, saying: “The ground was a bit sticky today. She prefers faster surfaces. But we saw what we wanted to see. She wouldn’t go for the Arc if the rains materialise. Instead, we would be more likely to go to the United States for the Filly & Mare at the Breeders’ Cup, where she’ll find the fast conditions that she relishes.”



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Bluestocking set for little break before Paris or Ascot trip

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Bluestocking will search for top-level honours racing against her own sex later in the autumn after her creditable effort in defeat in the red-hot Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

The Juddmonte-owned daughter of Camelot – who broke her Group One duck earlier in the summer – was running over the same course and distance she thrived on in landing the Middleton Stakes in May when finishing fourth to the ultra-impressive City Of Troy.

It is the second successive time Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old has held her own against the best around, having also chased home Goliath for second in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month.

Having made her connections proud once again on the Knavesmire, she is now set for a short break before further action later in the year.

“We were absolutely delighted with her and when we look back, you are going to say it’s the race of the year and she has given her running to finish fourth,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“You couldn’t not be happy with the run. Of course we all want to win, but she has run exceptionally on ground that is probably a little bit quicker than she would like.

“She has never let us down and came out of the race fine and she will have a little break now while we freshen her up for the autumn.”

Bluestocking winning at the Curragh earlier this year
Bluestocking winning at the Curragh earlier this year (Damien Eagers/PA)

Both a trip to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend and British Champions Day are on the radar for Bluestocking when she returns to the track, with any potential visit to the French capital likely to involve a shot at the Prix de l’Opera rather than the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself.

She could also join Juddmonte’s Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana in the starting stalls for the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 19, a race she finished a neck second in last year.

“I would say we will give September a miss and really freshen her up and look at Longchamp and Ascot in October,” continued Mahon.

“I would be favouring the Prix de l’Opera. The owners were keen to go for the Arc before the other day and if she was in the race, you would say fair enough, let’s roll the dice. But she’s not in it, so you are going to have to put out €120,000 to supplement her.

“She’s a high-class filly but taking on the colts, she probably has another couple of lengths to find, so why not stick to your own sex for the rest of the year and try and win another Group One if she could.

“We have two lovely fillies and Kalpana will run at Ascot in the Fillies & Mares. It will be nice to have two exciting fillies to look forward to at the end of the season.”



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Yorkshire Oaks under the microscope for Bluestocking

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Bluestocking could revert to taking on her own sex in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks after her fine second in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The sole filly in the King George line-up, Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old continued her stellar campaign to chase home the imperious French raider Goliath for a well-earned silver medal.

That performance came on the back of a first Group One victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, while she impressed with a dominant display at York in the Middleton Stakes on reappearance.

Therefore, it appears a shrewd move for connections to point towards the Knavesmire for a second crack at the Yorkshire Oaks on August 21, with the daughter of Camelot reported to have bounced out of her Ascot appearance in top form.

“Ralph has said she has come out of the race great and is in absolutely tip-top shape and you wouldn’t know she has had a race,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“It was a huge performance and we were delighted with the run. She’s in good shape and we’ll look forward to having some more good days with her this year.

“In fairness the winner was very good and very well produced by Francis Graffard, but she has beaten some top-notchers in Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg, Rebel’s Romance and many more there – they were the cream of the crop of the older-age middle-distance horses.”

Bluestocking has already won once at York this season
Bluestocking has already won once at York this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

He went on: “We’ll stumble along there towards York and then we can decide closer to the time if we run at York or wait a bit longer for something else.

“I think it’s a day or so short of four weeks from Ascot to York and Ascot was four weeks from the Curragh so her races have spaced out quite nicely and she has only had three runs this year which is not a huge amount. But at that level those horses put in that much effort they probably do want that sort of break between them.

“She won well at York in the Middleton and also ran well in the Yorkshire Oaks last year, so I think it looks a nice logical next step if she is fit and well.”



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Bluestocking connections keen for ease in the ground ahead of King George bid

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Connections of Bluestocking are keen to see some rain materialise on Thursday to allow her the chance to build on her maiden Group One success and take on the colts in a red-hot King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

A runner-up in both the Irish Oaks and over the King George track and trip on British Champions Day last year, the daughter of Camelot is getting her just rewards for some consistent performances at three this term.

After dazzling at York in the Middleton Stakes on her return, she recorded Group One honours for the first time when landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, a performance which teed-up a shot at the likes of Auguste Rodin and Rebel’s Romance in Ascot’s midsummer highlight.

Trainer Ralph Beckett indicated his intention to return to a mile and a half in this event providing conditions did not get too quick in Berkshire.

That has been echoed by Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon, who is hoping the forecast rain appears later this week to take the sting out of the ground and aid Bluestocking’s chances.

“I think Saturday is a real possibility and we said we were going to watch the weather,” said Mahon, who is Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“There is a bit of rain coming in on Thursday and depending on where you look you get different amounts.

Team Bluestocking celebrate her Pretty Polly success
Team Bluestocking celebrate her Pretty Polly success (Damien Eagers/PA)

“There is some rain coming and Ascot have watered as well and I think the ground is good, good to firm. There is not a whole lot more rain coming for Goodwood (Nassau Stakes) next week (which is another option) and at the minute we’ll be looking at the King George.

“We’ll monitor the situation and as Ralph said, if it was very quick ground we would probably have to relook at it. At the minute we’re going to keep going towards Saturday and hope they get a millimetre or two more than they are forecast.”

It could prove a key afternoon for the Bluestocking team with the outcome of her performance determining where connections focus in the latter segment of the season.

A bold showing could see the four-year-old ignite Parisian dreams for the autumn, where she could get the chance to go one better than former stablemate Westover in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

A return to York is an option for Bluestocking
A return to York is an option for Bluestocking (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mahon added: “I think if Saturday went well and she came out of it well and ran OK we would be thinking about the Yorkshire Oaks.

“Again depending on Saturday, if she shows that she is up to handling the colts, we can look at the Arc. There’s also the Prix Vermeille.

“She’s entitled to run in these big races. She’s now a Group One winner and she’s multiple Group One placed and at the stage of the season we are at, we will keep going at the top table with her.”



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Beckett biding his time on Bluestocking King George decision

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All options remain open for Bluestocking, with Ralph Beckett still to decide if she will take her place in next Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Runner-up in the Irish Oaks in 2023, a top-level success eluded the daughter of Camelot last season.

However, she has found the winning trend since returning as a four-year-old, dazzling in the Middleton Stakes at York before stepping up to strike at the highest level for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

That Curragh success raised the possibility of taking on the colts at Ascot, with connections of the Juddmonte-owned filly yet to rule out a showdown with the likes of Auguste Rodin and Rebel’s Romance next weekend.

However, she also has the option to head to Goodwood to continue racing over 10 furlongs in the Qatar Nassau Stakes, with the Yorkshire Oaks also a possibility later in the summer.

“Bluestocking worked on the grass this morning before I left home and we’ll decide (on plans) later in the week,” said Beckett, shortly after winning the Irish Oaks with You Got To Me.

“It depends on the weather and how we feel and so on.

“It will either be the King George or the Nassau or the Yorkshire Oaks, or two of the three.”



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Blossoming Bluestocking has big targets at Goodwood and York

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The Nassau Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks remain likely targets for Bluestocking following her Group One breakthrough in Ireland last weekend.

Having made an impressive start to her four-year-old campaign in the Middleton Stakes at York, Ralph Beckett’s filly showed plenty of tenacity to go with her undoubted talent to mow down proven top-notcher Emily Upjohn in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Camelot is reported to have taken those Irish exertions in her stride and further major prizes await, with Goodwood and York obvious stopping points later this summer.

“She came out of it great, Ralph was very happy with her. She’s a tough old mare to be fair to her,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She was gutsy and showed good determination to get up on Saturday. She’s threatened to deliver that for a while now, so it’s nice to actually get it done.

“In fairness, she was a big, immature three-year-old and a weak filly, so it’s no wonder she’s improving.

“I think that (Nassau then Yorkshire Oaks) looks the logical route. That was what Ralph was thinking and the owners were happy to go along with it, so if Ralph is happy with her, that’s the way we’ll go.”

Nostrum remains an exciting prospect for the Juddmonte team
Nostrum remains an exciting prospect for the Juddmonte team (Mike Egerton/PA)

Another Juddmonte homebred to perform well last weekend was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nostrum, who was on the comeback trail in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Kingman looked destined for the top as a juvenile and made a smart start to his three-year-old campaign at Newmarket 12 months ago, but he was beaten at Goodwood on his subsequent start and finished last of six in his next two races before being gelded over the winter.

Nostrum made his return at Group Three level on the July Course and Mahon is taking plenty of encouragement from his performance in finishing a close second to Noble Dynasty.

He added: “It was great to see him back and I think he’s just ready now to get going again.

“He’d obviously had a time of it since his last run at Sandown, so it was nice to see him behave well and settle well and finish the race off well. There were a lot of positives there, hopefully we’re on our way back to where we’d hope we’d be and we’ll look forward to his next run.

“There are plenty of options, he was entered for the City of York the other day and I think he’s in the Lennox at Goodwood. We’ll just let Sir Michael and the horse tell us when they’re ready for action.

“He did everything right the other day, which he hadn’t done on his last three starts, so hopefully we’re on our way to where we need to be.”



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