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Bluestocking swoops late to deny Emily Upjohn in Pretty Polly thriller

3 minute read

Ralph Beckett's filly was winning at the top level for the first time.

BLUESTOCKING (right, pink/green silks) winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Curragh in Kildare, Ireland. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking claimed her maiden Group 1 success when pouncing late to land the feature Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon.

The daughter of Camelot was denied half a length in the Irish Oaks by Savethelastdance last season and was once again deprived of Group 1 glory when going down by a neck to Poptronic in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.

However, top-level success looked almost inevitable at some stage this season after the Juddmonte-owned filly produced a striking six-length triumph in the Middleton Stakes at York on her reappearance.

Softening ground conditions at the Curragh only boosted confidence by Bluestocking, who was sent off the 11/10 favourite to claim her first Group 1 triumph in the hands of Rossa Ryan.

Victory didn't always look likely for Beckett's four-year-old though, as the in-form Kieran Shoemark stole a healthy advantage of fellow British challenger and main market rival Emily Upjohn with a couple of furlongs to travel.

The lead quickly began to diminish though and with every stride, Bluestocking inched closer to John and Thady Gosden's mare. Bluestocking soon swept on past Emily Upjohn, who hit a low of 1/33 on the Betfair Exchange, before going on to land the spoils by half a length.

Aidan O'Brien's Content ran on to grab the bronze medal position, with the front-running Lumiere Rock fading back into fourth.

"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."

On the decision to leave the cheekpieces off his most recent Group 1 heroine, Beckett added: "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 made the 5/2 favourite for the Nassau Stakes by Paddy Power, with the same firm making her the exact same price to claim Yorkshire Oaks glory later in the season.

Both options look on the cards for Bluestocking with the winning trainer adding: "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."

It was the first top-level success in his home country for the Irish-born Rossa Ryan. "It is brilliant!" said Ryan. "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."