Bluestocking powers to impressive Middleton success

Five-time stakes-placed Bluestocking stepped up to take her first Group win in the Gr.2 Middleton Stakes at York today (16th May 2024).

Taken from the thoroughbred Daily News, 16th May 2024, by Sean Cronin:

G.1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks and Gr.1 British Champions Fillies & Mares runner-up Bluestocking had failed to get her nose in front since attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status at Salisbury in September 2022, but bounced back from six straight stakes defeats to outshine all four rivals with a dominant display in the Gr.2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York.

Positioned in a handy third through halfway of this extended 10 furlong contest, the 5-2 second favourite loomed large racing hard on the steel approaching the quarter-mile marker and powered clear once seizing control with a furlong remaining to easily account for 15-8 favourite Free Wind and 'TDN Rising Star' Infinite Cosmos by six lengths and a neck.

"It's about time, isn't it?" said trainer Ralph Beckett. "She was a bridesmaid too many times last year and it's great to get that race under our belt. She has been frustrating and I said to Barry Mahon yesterday that I felt we'd done everything right, but you never know with her. I thought she looked well all week and 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 [Gr.1] 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 [Ryan] rode her that way."

Looking ahead, Beckett added: "We're well entered up and we'll work it out as we go along, I think. The [Gr.1] Coronation Cup is a possibility, but it's quite soon. We'll have a think and see how she comes out it. All options are open."

Bluestocking, the fifth of eight foals, is the leading performer from four scorers out of Gr.1 Matron Stakes heroine Emulous (Dansili), herself a full-sister to Gr.3 Prix Gontaut-Biron victor First Sitting and Listed Criterium de Vitesse victrix Daring Diva. Daring Diva, in turn, is the dam of three black-type performers headed by Gr.2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes and Gr.33 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Stakes victrix Brooch, herself the dam of Gr.1 Haskell Stakes hero and upgraded Gr.1 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun.