Bluestocking (GB)
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for five of the 11 possible runners in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes following Monday's confirmation stage, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) set to lead the Ballydoyle team into battle at Ascot as he tries to atone for his disappointing effort in the corresponding race 12 months ago. A four-time winner at the top level as a three-year-old when landing the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf, Auguste Rodin ran one of his lesser races that season when...
Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes served up a thriller, with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) running down Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the final yards for a deserved top-level breakthrough. With abundant rain falling on The Curragh throughout the day, the Ralph Beckett-trained 4-year-old who was herself cruelly denied late in last year's Irish Oaks held the upper hand in terms of ground preference and traded as the 11-10 favourite as a result. Settled in mid-division early...
Bringing genuine star quality to Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes, the Gosdens' Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) makes her belated Curragh debut having missed the 2022 Irish Oaks due to a freak aviation issue. What would have happened had her flight not been cancelled that July we'll never know, but her performance in last year's G1 Coronation Cup tells us she probably would have a Classic on her portfolio. Almost certainly guaranteed to be suited by this fair, galloping track, the 5-year-old may be peaking...
Recent G2 Middleton S. heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is targeting the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh on June 29. The Juddmonte homebred, who is trained by Ralph Beckett, was also under consideration for the G1 Coronation Cup on May 31 at Epsom. In 2023, the filly was second in the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. "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...
Charlie Appleby is hoping for another break in the weather ahead of the reappearance of TDN Rising Star Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy and G3 Autumn S. winner is a key member of the Derby cast at present, but his obvious preference for softer conditions leads connections into a quandary ahead of this trial. "The ground will be a question mark and we will want the rain to come," Appleby said. "We know that...
Day 2 of York's Ebor Festival plays host to a stellar edition of the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks and features a mouthwatering rematch between the G1 Irish Oaks first and second Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). The former's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has annexed six editions since the turn of the century, but is still three shy of the record nine held jointly by Mathew Dawson and Sir Michael Stoute. Savethelastdance's three career wins, which include a 22-length romp in May's Listed Cheshire Oaks, have all...
G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is likely for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 24, Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owner/breeder Juddmonte, confirmed on Wednesday. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the daughter of 2011 G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has never been off the board in four starts. After breaking her maiden at Salisbury in September, she ran second in a listed at Newbury behind Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her 3-year-old bow, and was third behind that filly in the G2 Ribblesdale...
It was a case of save it until the last minute as Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy) left hearts in mouths en route to delivering Aidan O'Brien a record seventh G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at a rain-soaked Curragh on Saturday. Failing to match her 22-length Listed Cheshire Oaks success when second in the G1 Oaks in June, the 10-11 favourite enjoyed the perfect trip until the straight and looked flat-footed and beaten as the sponsors' TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) swooped on the Ballydoyle...
by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson A field of eight make up Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, and a strong Irish contingent faces just one English challenger, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Aidan O'Brien runs four fillies, including the favourite, Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The Aga Khan homebred Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is another who is taking her chance in this 1 1/2-mile Classic at the Curragh, and will attempt to become the third winner for her owner/breeder after Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 1997 and Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar...
It took its time coming this year, but the expected Royal Ascot winner for the great Galileo (Ire) aptly arrived courtesy of Ballydoyle as Warm Heart (Ire) captured Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. for the late legend. Stepping up to a mile-and-a-half trip that was always going to see her excel following her hard-fought win in the 10-furlong Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. at Newbury last month, the 13-2 shot was in the right spot early with Ryan Moore's unerring radar to her advantage. As the initial strong pace...
She may not necessarily be Oaks-bound, but Ballydoyle's Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could be a major player at Royal Ascot nonetheless after beating TDN Rising Star Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. on Saturday. Showing battling qualities when off the mark over this 10-furlong trip at Leopardstown 13 days previously, the daughter of the triple group 1 winner Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) raced in a share of second early. Sent forward by Ryan Moore two out, the 5-2 second favourite...
Initiating a treble for the talent-rich Ralph Beckett juvenile team at Salisbury on Thursday, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) sparkled on debut to earn TDN Rising Star status in the card's opener. Sent off a 9-1 shot for division one of the Byerley Stud British EBF Novice S. over a mile, the daughter of the operation's G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was keen early for Rob Hornby buried mid-pack. At work with over two furlongs remaining, the homebred had to go to the far rail for a...