Tag Archive for: Bluestocking

Bluestocking pounces on Emily Upjohn for Pretty Polly glory

/in /by

Bluestocking swooped late to grab the Group One honours in the Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

The Ralph Beckett-trained filly twice finished second at the highest level last term, beaten half a length in the Irish Oaks by Savethelastdance and just a neck by Poptronic in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.

Having opened her campaign with a six-length Middleton Stakes triumph and with the Curragh ground easing all afternoon, Bluestocking was sent off a well-supported 11-10 favourite in the hands of Rossa Ryan, who managed to get his mount settled in behind as Lumiere Rock set the early gallop.

It looked as though Kieran Shoemark had made a race-winning move as he went for home on Emily Upjohn two furlongs out, quickly building up a couple of lengths advantage.

Bluestocking was only just getting going, though, and she reeled in the leader through the final furlong, eventually passing the post half a length clear, with Content nearly four lengths further back in third.

“It was great. Rossa had an inkling that Emily Upjohn might go forward at some point. In a way it helped us, in a way it was tough for her to run down but it gave us something to aim at,” said Beckett.

“It’s great to get it done. Last Irish Oaks Day will live long in the memory for the wrong reasons but it doesn’t matter now.”

Beckett opted to leave the cheekpieces off Bluestocking this time and explained: “We thought about it but last time she travelled so well through the race we thought we’d leave them. We have the right to put them back on of course.

“I thought she was always going to get there in the end, I thought she was always going to pick up, as she finds plenty under pressure.”

Bluestocking was cut for a range of summer highlights and is 5-2 favourite with Betfair for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and the same price for the Yorkshire Oaks.

Beckett added: “You’d think the Nassau is the right place to go and she clearly enjoys York, she’s run well twice there, so the Yorkshire Oaks will probably be a good idea as well.

“I don’t think trip is that important, I just think conditions have to be right and they were today.”

Bluestocking (right) was too strong for Emily Upjohn
Bluestocking (right) was too strong for Emily Upjohn (Damien Eagers/PA)

Bluestocking runs in the colours of Juddmonte, with the filly hailing from one of the owner-breeder’s established families.

European racing manager Barry Mahon said: “The dam (Emulous) won the Matron in Leopardstown, so she was a high-class filly. She had speed to win a Group One over a mile.

“Last year, we sat down at the end of the season and felt we probably stretched the filly a little bit with a mile and a half and I think she’s a revelation this year back over 10 furlongs.

“This means a lot to Juddmonte. We have two bases here in Ireland and a lot of staff. It means a lot to Prince Khalid’s family and all the staff. It’s a great result and we’re very happy.”

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival – The Curragh Racecourse – Saturday June 29th
Jockey Rossa Ryan celebrates with his family after winning on Bluestocking (Damien Eagers/PA).

Ryan was thrilled to strike Group One gold and said: “It is brilliant!

“She had to dig deep with me and I thought Kieran had gone on me.

“We hadn’t gone overly quick and my plan was to take a lead off one. I didn’t think I would get shuffled back that far but, by God, she’s tough.

“I’m so delighted really for everyone at home in Kimpton – they are the unsung heroes. Eric, who looks after him, is not here today, but he definitely deserves it.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Stay Alert primed for Pretty Polly redemption

/in /by

Hughie Morrison is keen to confine the events of last year’s Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes to the history books as Stay Alert prepares for a second tilt at the Curragh Group One on Saturday.

The Fastnet Rock filly was a 25-1 shot 12 months ago off the back of finishing fifth in York’s Middleton Stakes, but outran her odds and then some to finish second.

Stay Alert was beaten two lengths by George Boughey’s Via Sistina, but that told only half the story, with the winner hanging right and impeding the runner-up and a number of other horses to such an extent that connections felt it was worth lodging an appeal, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

Morrison’s charge failed to trouble the judge in three further outings in 2023, but having kicked off the new campaign with an impressive victory in Newmarket’s Dahlia Stakes, beating subsequent Royal Ascot heroine Running Lion, she heads back across the Irish Sea as a major player.

When asked whether he felt he had a score to settle in the Pretty Polly, Morrison said: “I don’t think one ever wants to do that in sport or think that way. Time heals and we move on.

“She’s done herself well and has done very well since she ran. My concern always is whether I’ve done enough with her, but travel can refine them down a bit and we’re just hopeful that she’ll run her race, perform to the levels she did at Newmarket and we’ll see how good she is.”

Hughie Morrison at Newmarket following Stay Alert's latest victory
Hughie Morrison at Newmarket following Stay Alert’s latest victory (John Walton/PA)

Stay Alert is part of a formidable British challenge which also includes Ralph Beckett’s runaway Middleton Stakes winner Bluestocking and John and Thady Gosden’s dual Group One winner Emily Upjohn.

Morrison added: “I think both times she’s gone over to Ireland, I feel I may have left a gallop short. It’s been quite dry in the last two weeks, so I haven’t overworked her.

“If Emily Upjohn turns up as she was as a three-year-old or when winning the Coronation Cup last year we’ll have to be very good to beat her, and Bluestocking on the formbook looks exceptional as well.

“Stay Alert doesn’t always retain her form throughout the season, but she seems happy in herself and Running Lion’s victory last week gave us a bit of hope.”

Emily Upjohn and Frankie Dettori winning last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom
Emily Upjohn and Frankie Dettori winning last year’s Coronation Cup at Epsom (Mike Egerton/PA)

Emily Upjohn has run twice so far this year, finishing fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March before being beaten into fourth when defending her Coronation Cup crown at Epsom.

John Gosden believes she is ready to return to her best in Ireland, saying: “I think in fairness to her, we trained her in the winter to go to Dubai and it doesn’t agree with a lot of fillies, so then I let her down afterwards through April and she really did herself well.

“I was having a little trouble getting her back in the zone again and she very much needed her race in the Coronation. She was carrying plenty of weight and condition, but she worked well on the July Course the other day so we’ll head there (Curragh) for what looks like a very competitive edition of the Pretty Polly.”

Bluestocking could hardly have been more impressive at York last month and Beckett is looking forward to seeing her return to the highest level.

He said: “It’s all systems go all, all things being equal. She’s in good shape, I’ve been very pleased with her since York.

“We were keen to stick with running against our own sex and this is what the race was written for, these fillies turning up to take each other on and we’re looking forward to doing exactly that.

“It appears she’s not (ground dependent) anymore, as she’s got older it appears not. There are plenty of fast ground elements in her pedigree and she’s a good moving filly.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s new recruit Tasmania and Charlie Johnston’s outsider Francophone also travel from Britain, with Joseph O’Brien’s pair of Lumiere Rock and Maxux and his father Aidan’s Content making up the home team.

O’Brien senior said of Content, last seen finishing eighth in the Coronation Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot: “We’re running her back quick. She’s just not really 100 per cent doing things right yet, she’s been a little bit keen so we’ve backed up the races a little bit quick.

“She wasn’t bad the last day and up to a mile and a quarter will help her, she’ll get more time to relax and breathe.

“It will be interesting how far she will stay, and will she get the trip. She is in good form since Ascot. She wasn’t beaten too far in the fillies’ race at Ascot and seems to have come out of it well.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking to be prepared for Pretty Polly target

/in /by

The Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland is the likely next port of call for Bluestocking following her impressive return to action at York last week.

Although winless as a three-year-old in 2023, the daughter of Camelot ran several good races in defeat in esteemed company, finishing third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, second in the Irish Oaks, fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks and second again on Champions Day at Ascot.

Ralph Beckett’s filly was not winning out of turn when dominating her rivals in the Group Two Middleton Stakes on the Knavesmire and while the Coronation Cup at Epsom was mooted as a potential target, she is instead set to be prepared for a return to the Curragh on June 29.

“You’re always hoping with a filly like her that she’ll improve from three to four, that’s not a given but I think we all felt she was a weak filly last year that would improve, so it was nice to see that she did,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She handled the drop back in trip and the better ground, I think it was an impressive display and I think we’ll stick against our sex for the time being, with the Pretty Polly being the most logical option at this moment in time.

“Later on in the season, we can venture into taking on the opposite sex, but at this point in time, I think we’ll try and win our Group One against our own sex and see how we go from there.”

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

While Bluestocking was largely campaigned over a mile and a half last season, Mahon feels her comeback victory over a mile and a quarter is evidence she may be better over the shorter trip.

He added: “We were just saying the other day, maybe in the Oaks and at Chester last year, maybe she wasn’t quite getting home over a mile and a half and maybe a mile and a quarter is her bale of hay.

“That will become evident as we go forward, but she was very effective over the mile and a quarter in York, so we’ll stick to it for the time being.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking wows with Middleton demolition

/in /by

Bluestocking made light work of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York.

Ralph Beckett’s Juddmonte-owned four-year-old travelled well from the off in the Group Two, stalking Sapphire Seas as Rossa Ryan remained patient on board.

When the Godolphin runner began to falter, Bluestocking was left in front and after starting at 5-2 she was unchallenged when striding to a most impressive six-length victory.

Last year’s winner Free Wind, the 15-8 favourite, was the runner-up this time for John and Thady Gosden.

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

Beckett was understandably delighted with the winner, who finished second in the Irish Oaks and on British Champions Day last season.

“It’s about time, isn’t it? She was a bridesmaid too many times last year and it’s great to get that race under our belt,” he said.

“She has been frustrating. I said to Barry Mahon (of Juddmonte) yesterday that I felt we’d done everything right, but you never know with her.

“I thought she looked well all week, saddling her I thought she could have looked better but she’s put it all together well today on a track that really suits her. She ran well here in the Yorkshire Oaks last year and I was quite happy to come back even if the ground did dry out.

“We tried the cheekpieces on her last start last year and had them on again. I always think the cheekpieces are pretty much a halfway house, you can take them off pretty easily and put them on pretty easily and I don’t think she’ll always need them.

“Perhaps she’s just come of age today and we had all of our ducks in a row. She was full of confidence and Rossa rode her that way.”

The Kimpton Downs handler was non-committal regarding future plans, added: “We’re well entered up and we’ll work it out as we go along, I think.

“The Coronation Cup is a possibility, but it’s quite soon (15 days). We’ll have a think and see how she comes out it, all options are open.”

Of Free Wind, John Gosden said: “She stayed on nicely, but she needs the mile and a half now, she’s that bit older – she’s won a Park Hill over a mile and six so I was very happy with that run.

“She was doing all her best work in the last furlong so we’ll step her up in trip. The Lancashire Oaks at Haydock is the obvious race, but this is the only one you can run in early in the year so we’ll step her up.

“She only just got up to win this last year, but this year the winner has improved mightily from three to four. I was delighted with ours, but we’ll step up to a mile and a half. She got beaten a nose in the Yorkshire Oaks last year, so we’ll try that again, but we’re likely to meet this filly there.

“The idea is to get a Group One this year, she’s won a Group Two the last three seasons.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking ‘is back and looks great’

/in /by

Bluestocking will have “unfinished business” to take care of when she returns to the track for her four-year-old season, with York’s Middleton Stakes or the Tattersalls Gold Cup possible early-season options.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the Juddmonte-owned filly acquitted herself with real credit during her three-year-old campaign and although she failed to add to her Salisbury juvenile success, she finished outside the top three only once in six starts, rattling the crossbar in some of the biggest races of the season.

She had the misfortune of bumping into Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart on three occasions, including when placed at Royal Ascot, while it was another Ballydoyle filly, Savethelastdance, that thwarted her Irish Oaks bid in the dying strides.

Bluestocking (left) was headed late by Savethelastdance (right) in the Irish Oaks
Bluestocking (left) was headed late by Savethelastdance (right) in the Irish Oaks (Niall Carson/PA)

The daughter of Camelot was last seen going down valiantly by a neck in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and connections are desperate to see if she can finally get her hands on a major middle-distance prize this term.

“Bluestocking is back and looks great. I’ve just seen her and we feel like we have a bit of unfinished business with her,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte.

“She’s gone close on a few occasions; her Irish Oaks run was obviously a big run and her Champions Day run was also huge.

“She looks great and she could start in the Middleton Stakes perhaps and there’s also the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland – she likes the Curragh, so that’s a possibility – and we will aim her at all those high-class middle-distance fillies’ races throughout the year.

“I think she has got a little stronger from three to four and she’s grown, so I think there is definitely some more to come from her.”

Kimpton Down handler Beckett may be without Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Westover this season, but he could be the man responsible for Juddmonte’s main Classic hopes in both the colts and fillies’ divisions.

Task Force was a Listed winner at Ripon last term
Task Force was a Listed winner at Ripon last term (Ripon Racecourse)

Frankel colt Task Force found just Vandeek too good when second in the Middle Park Stakes as a two-year-old and is being prepared to head straight to Newmarket for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, where he is as short as 12-1 to emulate his sire.

Mahon continued: “Ralph says we have some lovely horses and I’m not sure we will have much for the trials – Ralph is indicating Task Force is going to go straight to the 2000 Guineas without going to a trial.

“Task Force is in great shape and I’ve just seen him and he looks to have wintered well. We’re very happy with him and if his work is good then he will go straight to Newmarket.”

Skellet (left) in action at Newmarket in the Oh So Sharp Stakes
Skellet (left) in action at Newmarket in the Oh So Sharp Stakes (Nigel French/PA)

Beckett and Juddmonte could also be represented in the following day’s Qipco 1000 Guineas by Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Skellet and Lingfield maiden winner Indelible, with both fillies pleasing their handler in the early parts of the spring.

Kingman filly Skellet is another who could head straight to Newmarket on the first weekend of May, with Indelible the most likely of the duo to take in one of the key trial races over the coming month.

“It’s a little bit of the same as Task Force with Skellet and we have two nice fillies there, as we also have a nice one called Indelible, who is a Shamardal out of Midday,” added Mahon.

“Indelible won her maiden nicely at the backend of last season and one or the other might run in a trial, with the other probably going straight to Newmarket.

“It’s just a case of working out over the next four weeks how they are training and see. They look well and Ralph is happy with where they are at.

“With every week that goes by, they will keep on improving and maybe if we were to run one, it might be Indelible who goes for a trial. But we’re not hung up on it either and if they both need a bit more time they can go straight to Classics from where they are.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking to stay in training after narrow Ascot defeat

/in /by

Bluestocking will be back again next year after a frustrating winless season ended with her finishing second in another Group One on Champions Day.

Ralph Beckett’s filly chased home Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks and just failed to reel in Poptronic at Ascot on Saturday.

She was also placed in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and finished fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks but failed to get her head in front even when dropped to Listed company at Chester in September.

Barry Mahon, racing manger for owners Juddmonte said: “She ran another cracker, she’s having a break for the winter but she’ll be back next year.

“The owners had said before Saturday that they would like to keep her in training.

“Rossa (Ryan) gave her a lovely ride on Saturday, I thought the winner would have come back to her a little more but in fairness to her, she kept going.”

Roger and Harry Charlton’s Time Lock ran in the same race but disappointed back in seventh.

“The ground was too testing for her,” said Mahon. “William (Buick) said he knew after a furlong she wasn’t in love with the ground, it was just too soft.”

Chaldean won the 2000 Guineas under Frankie Dettori
Chaldean won the 2000 Guineas under Frankie Dettori (David Davies/PA)

Unfortunately similar comments applied to 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, he ended up being beaten 49 lengths.

“Frankie (Dettori) said he travelled great for five or six furlongs but then, having been off the track for a while, that ground found him out,” added Mahon.

“He couldn’t quicken off that really deep ground so he looked after him. We haven’t fully decided if he’s coming back next year or not.”

Next year promises to be another good one for Juddmonte either way, with the Middle Park runner up Task Force and Skellet, a narrow runner-up in the Oh So Sharp likely to take high order.

But Mahon also said it was too early to rule out Mill Reef winner Array from being a leading player despite him disappointing in the Dewhurst, for which he was supplemented.

“The horse we ran in the Dewhurst is a very nice horse but he came out of the that with an injury, so we didn’t see his true running there. I think he’ll be a nice horse next year, it’s not serious but enough to cause a below-par effort,” said Mahon.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Nostrum set for thorough check-up after York disappointment

/in /by

Future plans are on hold for Nostrum after the exciting colt finished lame when hot favourite for the Strensall Stakes at York on Saturday.

Third behind fellow Juddmonte-owned three-year-old Chaldean in the Dewhurst at Newmarket last term, the son of Kingman missed the first part of the current campaign after suffering a setback in the spring.

A spectacular comeback win in a Listed race at Newmarket last month suggested Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate was destined for the top, but he was beaten by Epictetus in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood and trailed home last of six runners in another Group Three on the Knavesmire on Saturday.

Whether Nostrum runs again this season remains to be seen, with connections still trying to discover the exact cause of his disappointing performance.

“He was lame behind on the day and it will be investigated a bit more today and tomorrow,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon on Monday.

“I don’t think it’s anything too sinister from what Sir Michael was saying, he thought it might have been more muscular than anything, but until we check it out we’ll wait and see.

“We won’t know what the plan is until we get all the results back and see what was causing the niggle.

“It was disappointing, but it would be worse if there was no reason for it. The main thing is getting him right as we know the talent is there and the ability is there, it’s just about getting him right.”

Bluestocking has done well in top-class company
Bluestocking has done well in top-class company (Andrew Matthews/PA)

A Juddmonte runner who produced a more positive performance at York was Bluestocking, who was beaten just three and a half lengths into fourth place in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks.

Ralph Beckett’s filly has previously finished third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot before being narrowly denied by Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks, and her team must now decide whether to lower her sights or line up in another Group One contest on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot.

Mahon added: “I thought she ran a lovely race and she’s a filly that’s probably still a little bit on the weak side when you watch her going round the ring compared to some of the opposition.

“I thought it was noticeable that there’s still a little bit of weakness in her and I think she’s filly that will be better next year, but she’s running to a high level of form.

“A little bit more ease in the ground probably suits her a little better and I’m sure there’ll be good days to be had with her along the way.

“We haven’t really decided where we go next, we need to discuss that with the owners. We touched on it after the race whether we drop in class and win a race this year or she goes to the fillies’ race on Ascot on Champions Day.

“We’ll let her get over York and speak with the owners and then decide in the coming weeks.”

Frankie Dettori and Andrew Balding with Chaldean after winning the 2000 Guineas
Frankie Dettori and Andrew Balding with Chaldean after winning the 2000 Guineas (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Mahon also provided an update on 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean, who has enjoyed a mid-season break since failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in early July.

The Andrew Balding-trained son of Frankel is being readied for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, with a prep run at Newmarket in the pipeline.

“I think Andrew in the back of his head is slightly thinking of the Joel Stakes,” said Mahon.

“He’s back in Kingsclere and cantering away and we sort of said we’d just monitor and see how he goes closer to the time, but Andrew was thinking Joel Stakes and then the QEII.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Savethelastdance and Bluestocking primed for Yorkshire Oaks clash

/in /by

Savethelastdance and Bluestocking, who served up such a thrilling contest in the Irish Oaks, meet again in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks at York on Thursday.

Second at Epsom to Soul Sister, Aidan O’Brien’s Savethelastdance gained her own Classic victory at the Curragh – but it looked far from likely with a furlong to run.

The race had gone perfectly to plan for Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking, who hit the front with 100 yards to race.

However, having been caught seemingly flat footed when the pace quickened, Ryan Moore conjured up one last lunge from Savethelastdance and she was able to get her head in front in the nick of time.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore were all smiles after the Irish Oaks
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore were all smiles after the Irish Oaks (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking after saddling Continuous to win Wednesday’s Great Voltigeur Stakes, O’Brien admitted underfoot conditions at York may not be ideal for his filly.

He said: “Looking at the ground today is a little bit of a worry. Ryan said the ground is quicker than it was in (Royal) Ascot, so it’s proper quick ground.

“She (Savethelastdance) has ran on it – she ran on it in Epsom. Her best form is in soft ground and obviously she’s not going to get that, but she’s in good form.”

O’Brien has a very capable second string in the shape of Warm Heart, winner of the Ribblesdale at Ascot but a slightly underwhelming fifth in the Irish Oaks.

Warm Heart was an impressive winner of the Ribblesdale at Ascot
Warm Heart was an impressive winner of the Ribblesdale at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“Maybe the softer ground just caught her out there, and she got caught further back than ideal off a slow pace,” said O’Brien.

“All those things could have contributed to what was maybe a little bit of a disappointing run.

“Other than that she had a really nice, progressive profile.”

For Beckett, he came within half a length of having won the Irish Derby and Oaks in successive years following on from Westover’s exploits.

Bluestocking remains without a win this year, but her run at the Curragh was another big step forward from her third place in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, behind Warm Heart.

Bluestocking broke her maiden impressively at Salisbury
Bluestocking broke her maiden impressively at Salisbury (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Beckett said: “Bluestocking worked well on Friday and we are happy to go. It’s the right spot for her and at her level there aren’t many alternatives, as she’s Group One placed and so not eligible for the Galtres.

“I was thrilled with her at the Curragh, where everything went right and she just got caught. That was only her fourth race and she’s improved every time, so it’s possible she’ll improve again, but I don’t know how much more we might see at this level. It’s a deep renewal, but I’m really hopeful.”

The Yorkshire Oaks forms part of the Qipco British Champions Series and one filly with a win in the Fillies’ & Mares’ category already is Roger Varian’s Al Husn, who sprang something of a surprise in the Nassau at Goodwood when beating Blue Rose Cen and Nashwa.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “We wanted everything to be right and the question was always whether this would come too soon after the Nassau, but she did a bit of work last Thursday and everyone is happy with her.

“We are very lucky that she’s got a Group One on the board already, so we don’t have to chase one, and running here instead of in last Sunday’s Prix Jean Romanet gives her an extra four days.

“She hasn’t run over this trip before and nobody has ever said to me that they think she wants further, but she’s so tough and it’s obviously a lovely race. With Sheikha Hissa due to be at York, we are keen to run.”

Karl Burke has two contenders in Lancashire Oaks winner Poptronic and the three-year-old Novakai.

“It’s a very hot renewal but both fillies deserve to take their chance,” said Burke.

“Poptronic is a very strong stayer and she was very good when beating Sea Silk Road in the Lancashire Oaks, so I’d be very hopeful that she can run into a place at least.

“She ran in the Yorkshire Oaks a year ago, and although she finished last she was only beaten around 10 lengths by the Arc winner, heavily eased down. If anything, that gave us the encouragement to carry on with her from three to four. Whether she can win a Group One as strong as this, I don’t know, but she’s certainly capable of placing in one.

“Novakai is a year younger and less exposed at the trip. She was second in the Fillies’ Mile last year, and we started her off this year at a mile and a quarter because her owner Sheikh Obaid was keen to keep her at that trip to start with.

“She was second in the Musidora and then went to France for the Diane, but it was when we stepped her up to a mile and a half that she really came into her own, bolting up in the Listed Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket. This is a lot stronger, but she’s a good staying filly and she deserves to take her chance.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Beckett has Kinross and Bluestocking primed for York action

/in /by

Fresh from taking the top trainer title at Goodwood, Ralph Beckett is lining up a strong squad headed by Kinross for York’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

Kinross landed the Lennox Stakes last week, one of three winners for the Kimpton Downs handler across the five-day fixture.

The six-year-old will now follow the same route as last year, rolling on to the Knavesmire to defend his crown in the Group Two Sky Bet City of York Stakes – with the seven-furlong contest now boasting a prize fund of £500,000 to highlight the action on August 26.

Frankie Dettori in flying dismount form with Kinross
Frankie Dettori in flying dismount form with Kinross (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Beckett said: “It was great to get his head in front again last week and our intention is to run in the City of York. He’s already shown a liking for the place.

“He’s very versatile, having won a Champions Sprint (at Ascot) and nearly won a Breeders’ Cup Mile as well. He’s not (trip) specific, but seven furlongs is definitely his optimum.”

Beckett also has Angel Bleu, another who runs in the colours of Marc Chan, in the City of York, although the ground would need to be testing for him to run.

“He would only go if it was wet. He’s in good form, but he does need slow ground,” he added.

Bluestocking (left) pushed Savethelastdance all the way at the Curragh
Bluestocking (left) pushed Savethelastdance all the way at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

Bluestocking is the only Group One entry of the week for Beckett, with the filly set to contest the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks on the second day of the four-day fixture, August 24.

Winner of her only juvenile outing, the Juddmonte-owned runner has placed in each of her three starts this term, posting a career-best effort when beaten just half a length by Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh last month.

Beckett said: “It was a good effort. We were thrilled with her. Our intention is to run in the Yorkshire Oaks, certainly. She came back from Ireland in good shape and we’re on course.”

Jimi Hendrix winning at Royal Ascot
Jimi Hendrix winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

While Kinross and Bluestocking are set to be Beckett’s headline acts, he is eyeing the Group Three Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall Stakes for Royal Hunt Cup winner Jimi Hendrix, with the richly-endowed handicaps across the fixture also grabbing his attention.

He said: “It’s always important to show off at the festivals. We had a good Goodwood, hopefully we can carry it on into York.

“Jimi Hendrix will probably run in the Strensall Stakes (August 26). We’ll have a few for the handicaps as well. We’re hoping to come with a team, for sure.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Yorkshire Oaks could be on the agenda for Bluestocking

/in /by

Bluestocking will be given a couple of options at the upcoming Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York following her narrow defeat in the Irish Oaks.

Placed behind Warm Heart in both a Listed race at Newbury and the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Camelot filly comprehensively reversed that form in the Curragh Classic and looked the likely winner after travelling powerfully to the lead.

In the end she was outstayed by Epsom Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance, but lost little in defeat in being beaten half a length and is now bound for the Knavesmire.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “Whilst we thought the world of her, her form before the Irish Oaks wouldn’t have suggested she was going to put in a run like that, but we sort of always felt she had that in her.

“It was a huge run and I thought she had it won for most of the straight, but unfortunately we didn’t.

“We’ll look towards York for her. It will more than likely be the Yorkshire Oaks, but because she hasn’t won yet this year she has the option of the race we won with Haskoy last year (Galtres Stakes).

“You’d imagine she’ll probably go for the Yorkshire Oaks, but she’ll be in both anyway.”

Waltham has been seriously impressive twice at Leopardstown
Waltham has been seriously impressive twice at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Two other horses who have made a big impression for the Juddmonte team in the last week are Waltham and Task Force.

Trained by Ger Lyons, the three-year-old Waltham supplemented an impressive debut win at Leopardstown with a runaway six-length success in a conditions event at the same track. He now looks set for a step up to Pattern class, but Mahon feels talk of a tilt at Classic glory in the St Leger is premature.

“He’s a nice horse and he’s a horse that went into training late – he only went into training in May this year,” he said.

“He’s done nothing wrong in his two wins, he’s progressing nicely and stays well and something like the Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh (August 20) would be next on the cards.

“He is a nice horse, but you have to remember he’s won a pretty uncompetitive maiden and he’s won a nice conditions race – it’s a long way off Group One standard.”

Task Force, trained by Ralph Beckett, is bred to be a bit special as a son of Frankel out 1000 Guineas heroine Special Duty and made a big impression on his racecourse introduction at Salisbury.

While plans are fluid, Mahon hopes he can go on to bigger and better things.

He said: “It’s not too many times you have a two-year-old that’s by a Guineas winner and out of a Guineas winner and he’s a nice horse.

“He’s a very late foal (born in May) and he’s been a little bit immature, but he’s shown up well at home, Ralph decided to bring him down the road for his first start and he won well.

“Again the quality of the race might not have been the strongest, but he did it in impressive fashion over what I’d imagine is his bare minimum trip of six furlongs.

“Without discussing it with Ralph, he would remind me of a horse who probably won’t have a huge amount of racing this year. If he had another two starts that would probably be the height of it as he’s a horse to look forward to for next year.

“I’d say he’ll step up to seven furlongs next time.”

When asked whether the Acomb Stakes at York could be a target, he added: “At the moment I think the plan is for Starlore to go to the Acomb, but if Task Force was in good form and Ralph wanted a go it’s not impossible we could run two of them.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bluestocking under consideration for Irish Oaks outing

/in /by

Bluestocking showed enough in her performance at Royal Ascot last week to put herself in the picture for a tilt at the Juddmonte Irish Oaks later this month.

An impressive winner on her sole juvenile start at Salisbury, Ralph Beckett’s filly was being considered for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom prior to her narrow defeat by Warm Heart on her reappearance in a Listed contest at Newbury last month.

With the daughter of Camelot still showing signs of inexperience, the decision was made to bypass Epsom in favour of a tilt at the Ribblesdale Stakes – but while she again ran well in defeat, this time she was beaten almost four lengths into third place by the reopposing Warm Heart.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, is of the opinion there should be more to come from Bluestocking and she could now head for the Curragh on July 22 in a bid for Classic glory.

“I was absolutely delighted with how Bluestocking ran,” he said.

“We saw how green she was in Newbury and Frankie (Dettori) said she was still a bit green the other day – he said it took her a bit of time to get used to the hustle and bustle of having horses around her.

“She then settled into a lovely rhythm and fell asleep under him. He tried to wake her up again coming round the bend and it just took her half a furlong too long to get into top gear. With a few horses coming back on top of her, she just couldn’t get competitive, but you’d love the way she hit the line.”

Ralph Beckett trains Bluestocking
Ralph Beckett trains Bluestocking (Mike Egerton/PA)

Considering future plans, Mahon added: “I think if she’s fit and well we’ll definitely consider the Irish Oaks. The fractions suggest they went very slowly at Ascot and I think a strongly-run mile and a half will be more her cup of tea.

“The Curragh would suit her and if we got a little bit of rain between now and then all the better.”

While Bluestocking and St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Chaldean had to make do with minor honours, Juddmonte did get on the Royal Ascot winner’s board with Coppice in the Sandringham Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s filly was supplementing a comfortable victory at Newcastle, having previously failed to fire in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket, and the success came as no surprise to Mahon.

He said: “It was a great performance. We started the year with high hopes – as Frankie alluded to after she won we thought she was a Guineas filly in the spring, but for obvious reasons she was just slow to come to hand.

“John and Thady went the patient route and it paid off. It was nice to get the winner on the board and she’s definitely an exciting filly for the remainder of the year.

“I don’t really know where she’ll go. The Falmouth would be a big step and if Laurel gets over her little setback in time that’s where she’ll go, all going well.

“For Coppice it would be nice to get black type with her, so we could look at a Listed race or a Group Three with her to get some black type in the bank.”

The Juddmonte team did suffer a couple of notable disappointments at the Royal meeting, with Arrest and Covey both performing below expectations.

Chester Vase winner Arrest failed to bounce back from Derby disappointment
Chester Vase winner Arrest failed to bounce back from Derby disappointment (David Davies/PA)

Arrest was bidding to bouncing back from a Derby no-show in the King Edward VII Stakes, but finished fifth of sixth, while Covey was a well-beaten favourite in the Jersey.

“We were worried about the ground for Arrest, we took a chance and it didn’t pay off. We’ll freshen him up and bring him back for an autumn campaign when there’s a bit of juice in the ground,” Mahon added.

“I was a little disappointed with Covey, he ran a little too free, Frankie just said he ran with the choke out the whole way.

“I think he’s definitely a better horse than we saw the other day and what came out of it is that on a straight track he just tends to over-race a little bit.

“He can still be a nice horse, but maybe he needs to go around a bend.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Oaks bid not ruled out yet for Bluestocking

/in /by

Connections of smart filly Bluestocking have not ruled out the possibility she could still run in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom on Friday week.

The daughter of Camelot won a decent Salisbury novice over a mile on her debut in September and made her return in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The Ralph Beckett-trained filly was sent off favourite under Rossa Ryan for the 10-furlong contest, but was beaten a head by Warm Heart and Ryan Moore.

A general 12-1 chance for the Oaks, the Juddmonte-owned Bluestocking also holds entries in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and both the Group One Pretty Polly at the Curragh and the Irish Oaks in July.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said the Epsom door is being kept open.

“Plans are pretty fluid. We’ll see how she comes out of the race,” he said.

“Ralph will decide. It is more unlikely than likely. It is not impossible, but we’ll see how she trains in the next week.

“She is an exciting filly going forward and she ran a good race on Saturday. We are very much not ruling it out, but as we all know, it is probably not an ideal preparation for her.

“If she doesn’t go to Epsom, she will go to the Ribblesdale. Ralph was happy with her on Sunday morning and he said let’s keep an open mind for next week and see what happens, so that’s where we’re at.”

Haskoy, who took the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes by a short head from Israr on the same card, could head to the Ascot Gold Cup.

Connections are unsure if the four-year-old, who was having her seasonal bow following three runs last term, culminating in a two-length defeat in the St Leger – will get the two-and-a-half-mile trip.

Haskoy and Frankie Dettori (right) took the Al Rayyan Stakes
Haskoy and Frankie Dettori (right) took the Al Rayyan Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

“It was a lovely run,” said Mahon. “She is a lovely mare, so genuine, so tough. We’ll just keep an open mind and will see how she trains, and we’ll think about Gold Cups closer to the time.

“The problem with the Gold Cup is no one really knows, until you actually try it, if you’ll stay.

“Ralph is happy enough that he thinks she’ll stay. Personally, I’m a little bit doubtful, but if it is deemed the right thing to do, we’re game and we’ll give it a go.

“We’re not trying to protect any stud values or anything. If Ralph and Frankie (Dettori) decided it was the right thing to do, we’ll possibly give it a go.

“It is tough for a four-year-old filly who has only had four runs.

“The good thing with her is that she is so genuine, so tough, there is no mental fragility. She is just a tough, genuine mare.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Haskoy tackles Al Rayyan challenge on Newbury return

/in /by

Ralph Beckett’s Haskoy will bid to begin her season with a bang in the Al Rayyan Stakes at Newbury.

The Golden Horn filly was twice a winner as a three-year-old, taking a novice on debut and then the Listed Galtres Stakes at York in August.

Her next outing was the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster, where she ran a fine race to cross the line in second place but was later demoted to fourth as she was deemed to have caused interference.

Her run at Newbury will be her first of the season in a career that seems to be following an upward trajectory.

Barry Mahon, general manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “She’s a star.

“To jump up from winning a maiden on the all-weather, to then win a stakes race at York days later and then be thrown in at the deep end into a St Leger and finish second past the post.

“She’s a good filly, but she’s just taken a bit of time to come to hand.”

Godolphin run a well-fancied duo, with multiple Group winner Yibir at the head of the market for Charlie Appleby.

The five-year-old has not been seen since winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July, prior to which he was internationally campaigned and only narrowly beaten in the Sheema Classic, the Jockey Club Stakes and the Man o’War Stakes at Belmont.

Yibir winning the Princess Of Wales’s Close Brothers Stakes
Yibir winning the Princess Of Wales’s Close Brothers Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

Appleby’s second runner is Kemari, another five-year-old gelding but a horse who was more recently seen when finishing fourth and second in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy and the Dubai City Of Gold respectively at Meydan.

The trainer told www.godolphin.com: “Yibir suffered a setback after winning in July but his preparation has gone well. He went for a racecourse gallop at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago and we were very pleased with how he went.

“If he can bring the level of form he showed as a three-year-old and what we saw last year, he is going to be the one they all have to beat.

“Kemari showed great consistency over the winter in Dubai and the ground should be lovely for him. He is a very straightforward horse in terms of his running style and will hopefully be very competitive if he can replicate his Meydan performances.”

Gaassee (right) winning the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap
Gaassee (right) winning the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap (Tim Goode/PA)

William Haggas is represented by Gaassee, a four-time winner who returns to the track for the first time since August and since being gelded.

The trainer said: “That is a very strong race for what it is. It’s a Group Three race with lots of good horses in it.

“He has got talent – we’ve had a few issues with him, but he’s ready to go and he’ll enjoy some decent ground.

“We gelded him at the end of last season. I think he’s OK.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Israr, Andrew Balding’s Old Harrovian, Aidan O’Brien’s Bolshoi Ballet also feature.

Noble Style drops back to a sprint trip at Newbury
Noble Style drops back to a sprint trip at Newbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

Elsewhere there are two Listed races, the first of which is the opening BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes over six furlongs.

Godolphin and Appleby have a strong hand once again through Noble Style, winner of the Gimcrack last term and sixth in the 2000 Guineas when last seen.

Appleby said: “Noble Style goes into this in good order on the back of a pleasing run in the 2000 Guineas, when he was trying a mile for the first time on soft ground.

“We came out of that race with the mindset that sprinting was going to be the way forward.

“Working back from the Commonwealth Cup, we felt getting him back into a sprinting frame of mind here was the right thing to do. This looks a nice springboard onto Royal Ascot and we are very much looking forward to seeing him back over this trip.”

Bluestocking winning the Byerley Stud British EBF Novice Stakes
Bluestocking winning the Byerley Stud British EBF Novice Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The other Listed contest is the Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes, a 10-furlong event for likely Oaks types.

Juddmonte and Beckett run Bluestocking, a daughter of Camelot who won on debut in September when taking a Salisbury novice by a length and a quarter.

“She won her maiden well. Unfortunately we missed Lingfield (last weekend), which was where we wanted to go, and she has taken time to come to herself like a lot of fillies this spring,” Mahon said of the bay.

“Lingfield was our initial plan and the filly was probably not ready to run there anyway, so the switch to the all-weather didn’t really matter to us.

“We’re just waiting for her to come and bloom and she’s coming.

“Everyone is happy with her, she’s not 100 per cent there yet, but she’s coming and just about ready to start.

“She’s a nice filly, full of potential but there is still the unknown until we see her on track and that is where we will find out what her level is.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns