Bluestocking to be prepared for Pretty Polly target

The Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland is the likely next port of call for Bluestocking following her impressive return to action at York last week.

Although winless as a three-year-old in 2023, the daughter of Camelot ran several good races in defeat in esteemed company, finishing third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, second in the Irish Oaks, fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks and second again on Champions Day at Ascot.

Ralph Beckett’s filly was not winning out of turn when dominating her rivals in the Group Two Middleton Stakes on the Knavesmire and while the Coronation Cup at Epsom was mooted as a potential target, she is instead set to be prepared for a return to the Curragh on June 29.

“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 she was a weak filly last year that would improve, so it was nice to see that she did,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She handled the drop back in trip and the better ground, I think it was an impressive display and I think we’ll stick against our sex for the time being, with the Pretty Polly being the most logical option at this moment in time.

“Later on in the season, we can venture into taking on the opposite sex, but at this point in time, I think we’ll try and win our Group One against our own sex and see how we go from there.”

While Bluestocking was largely campaigned over a mile and a half last season, Mahon feels her comeback victory over a mile and a quarter is evidence she may be better over the shorter trip.

He added: “We were just saying the other day, maybe in the Oaks and at Chester last year, maybe she wasn’t quite getting home over a mile and a half and maybe a mile and a quarter is her bale of hay.

“That will become evident as we go forward, but she was very effective over the mile and a quarter in York, so we’ll stick to it for the time being.”