Beckett delighted with Bluestocking ahead of Petemps Network Yorkshire Oaks

Twelve months ago in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks the brilliant Alpinista treated York racegoers to a long awaited taste of what their counterparts in Europe had seen regularly with a fifth successive Group 1 win and a first on home soil a, beating the Oaks winner Tuesday fair and square. Six weeks later her career came to a glorious conclusion with that stunning win in the Arc.

There is no Alpinista in Thursday’s field, and unusually the latest Oaks winner is missing too, but the Oaks second and Irish Oaks winner Savethelastdance is in the field, and she is joined by her stable-mate Warm Heart, the Ribblesdale winner. Their trainer Aidan O’Brien has already won the race six times, but the pair face strong opposition in the £500,000 Group 1, which is part of the British Champions Series.

Bluestocking, who was having only her fourth race when second in the Irish Oaks, heads her rivals, with trainer Ralph Beckett reporting that she is “showing all the right signs.”

The filly looked the winner at The Curragh when making headway on the outside past a toiling Savethelastdance to lead well inside the final furlong, only for Ryan Moore to conjure a remarkable late run from the winner which took her to the front near the line. O’Brien believes Savethelastdance would have benefitted from a stronger early gallop, while Beckett made no excuses for Bluestocking, but the margin was only half a length and this is another day.

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 1 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 I don’t know. It’s a deep renewal, but I’m really hopeful.”

Roger Varian’s recent Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Al Husn is prominent in the betting too. She is stepping into the unknown over this longer trip, but with a Group 1 safely in the bag already there is little to lose and plenty to gain. It’s a big opportunity for David Egan, who takes over from the suspended Jim Crowley.

Angus Gold, racing manager of owners Shadwell Estates, 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 1 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’s Poptronic is one of two Lancashire Oaks winners in the field, and she is joined by her younger stable-mate Novokai, who was second here in the Musidora Stakes. 

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

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 ten 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 1 as strong as this I don’t know but she’s certainly capable of placing in one.”

He added: “Novokai is a year younger and less exposed at the trip. She was second in the Group 1 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 hell of a lot stronger but she’s a good staying filly and she deserves to take her chance.”

Last year’s Lancashire Oaks winner Free Wind runs too for John and Thady Gosden, bidding to give Frankie Dettori a fifth and final win in the race he first won 29 years ago on Only Royale. Anyone who saw Free Wind get up at Haydock in 2022 after being very severely hampered will respect her chance, and her recent run on heavy ground at York is easily forgiven.

The William Haggas-trained Sea Silk Road, runner-up to Poptronic at Haydock after winning a Group 3 over the same course and distance is at much longer odds but can not be dismissed.

Jockey Tom Marquand said: “She’s proven herself a really tough filly and shown a high level of form on multiple occasions. I didn’t ride her at Haydock last time but she ran another massive race against the filly she had beaten there before (Poptronic). Haydock suited the winner well, but Sea Silk Road got her nose in front briefly after coming from off the pace.

“When she won there the time before she was faultless. She got everything right and there wasn’t a stride when I didn’t feel that I’d be able to pick them all up.”

A field of ten is completed by Stay Alert and Roscarberry, who finished respectively in second and fourth (after suffering significant interference) behind the classy Via Sistina in last month’s Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh.