Juddmonte and their trainers’ decision to send Blue Bolt and Item to Leopardstown boosted their respective Group 1 targets, and they were rewarded with the first of their British runners when Andrew Balding’s brilliant mare Blue Bolt strode clear in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes.
The daughter of Blue Point was sent off 4/5 favourite to make it five from five this season and complete a Group 1 treble, kickstarted by victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild.
Precise, who chased her home on both occasions, was second in the betting at 3/1 – some way clear of her Ballydoyle stablemate True Love at 15/2. Last year’s winner, Fallen Angel, featured next in the market for Karl Burke.
Drawn nine of nine, Blue Bolt was positioned behind the leaders by Colin Keane and travelled comfortably approaching the turn for home. The Blue Point four-year-old was ridden to lead approaching the final furlong, with Paddy Twomey’s lightly-raced mare City Of Memphis her nearest challenger and the Juddmonte mare soon put the race to bed, striding clear to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Twomey’s representative took runner-up honours under Billy Lee, while the five-year-old Fallen Angel ran her best race of the season so far in third, on ground that was firmer than ideal for the grey.
Pretty special
“She was always travelling well, always in the right place,” Andrew Balding reported. “I loved the way she picked up and hit the line. I am very proud of her. She hasn’t put a foot wrong all year. She has been faultless.
“I don’t know where we will go with her next. She has a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup and that will be one of the options. We will just enjoy today and think about that tomorrow!”
Reflecting on her progression, he continued: “She was tough to train at two, we started by getting beaten at odds-on in Southwell and we haven’t looked back since then. She’s pretty special; she’s just gotten better and better, and she’s a beautiful physical as well.”
Juddmonte’s racing manager, Barry Mahon, added: “She was bred by the Hayes in Knocktoran and has a beautiful pedigree – she’s out of a very good racemare who’s bred some good fillies.
“Luckily for us, the owners purchased her in Arqana for €400,000. Great physical, beautiful pedigree and now a brilliant race record. She’s an exciting broodmare down the line.”
On the possibility of Blue Bolt returning next year, Mahon said that the Abdullah family would make the call, saying: “At the end of the year, we sit down and make those decisions. They’re not opposed to keeping a five-year-old in training, so who knows, but as I said, that’ll very much be a decision for them at the end of the year.”
“I wouldn’t say no, but it’s not my decision,” Balding added with a laugh. Reflecting on what has been a season to remember for the Kingsclere team, he continued: “I’m blessed with an amazing team; it’s a real team effort and from the top to the bottom, we’re very strong.”
Retirement beckons
While Blue Point’s 2027 plans remain up in the air, Fallen Angel will retire at the end of this year, Karl Burke revealed, after applauding the grey’s game third at Leopardstown.
“We could have done with the rain with the Curragh got,” he rued. “She’s run a great race, very brave. I thought she was going to get swallowed up a furlong out, but she’s battled away.
“I wasn’t as worried about her performance [beforehand] as everyone else was – we knew she wasn’t buzzing on her first couple of runs. We only gave her a run in the listed race at Haydock because we were sick of galloping her at home. We just wanted to liven her up and that worked. It’s been such a dry summer, it’s gone against her.”
After winning the 2025 Matron Stakes, Fallen Angel followed up in the Sun Chariot Stakes, and Burke plans to follow the same formula this time, too. “The plan is definitely the Sun Chariot and then we’ll take a view on Ascot or the Breeders’ Cup, or both of those, it just depends on the ground.
“Keeneland will be her final race, if she goes there, then she’s off to stud. She deserves it.”