She had previously closed her sophomore campaign last term with a stakes breakthrough in October's Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. at Newmarket and doubled up in the May 6 Kilvington Fillies' S. back at HQ coming back off a 210-day break last time.

Azure Blue bided her time and settled back in the field through the solid early fractions of this six-furlong dash. Making smooth headway into contention after halfway, the 12-1 chance locked horns with last year's winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) entering the final furlong and was ridden out to subdue that multiple Group 1-winning rival by a half-length nearing the line. The winner's stablemate Commanche Falls (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) ran on well in the latter stages to finish 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.

Sadly, the contest was tainted by the demise of Godolphin's 2021 G1 British Champions Sprint winner and last term's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint third Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who sustained an unrecoverable leg injury during the race.

Dods is somewhat familiar with the day-to-day intricacies of housing speedy fillies, having nurtured the career of dual G1 Nunthorpe heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She's done nothing but improve since the end of last season,” he insisted after notching a first win in this contest. “We didn't feel we had her ready at Newmarket [last time] as she'd had a few issues. It was nothing serious, but we just didn't feel we'd got the work in. She went there and did it well and I knew there was improvement to come. It was a big step up to go from a Listed mares' race to today, but looking at the calendar there wasn't a lot else coming up in the short-term, which is why we came here. I think today she's shown she's a proper Group 1 horse.”

Looking ahead, or possibly not, to a Royal engagement, the trainer continued, “She's not entered at Ascot and I'm not sure what the supplementary price is. We wouldn't want to run on ground any faster than today and we'll make a decision nearer the time. Today was the start of her career in these races, we hadn't made any plans and didn't have her in some of the early-closing races. I wouldn't be frightened by coming back to five furlongs with her on slow ground, so there's plenty of targets for her and a lot to look forward to. You would have to look at the [G1 Prix de l'] Abbaye and that would be on my radar. We'll have to see what we do in between times.”

Fellow conditioner John Quinn was far from downbeat in the aftermath of Highfield Princess's defeat, the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1 Nunthorpe and G1 Flying Five heroine having been burdened with a five-pound impost coming back off a gallant fourth in Keeneland's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “Nobody knows from year to year if a horse is going to maintain its ability, especially going from the age of five to six for a mare, so we're delighted,” he said. “She showed all her old enthusiasm and she always comes on for her first run of the year. We're as pleased as we can be without winning as she carried a Group 1 penalty there. It will be Group 1 sprints all the way now, so she won't be giving that weight away. I think, looking at that today, it will be the [G1] King's Stand at [Royal] Ascot over five as she's got speed to burn. If we're lucky, she'll go down the Group 1 five-furlong route, so the King's Stand, Nunthorpe, Flying Five and the Abbaye.”

Pedigree Notes
Azure Blue, one of her sire's five stakes winners, is the second of five foals produced by Sea Of Dreams (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself an unraced half-sister to G3 Desmond S. victor Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Brownstown S. winner Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Sea Of Dreams is also a full-sister to the dam of Listed Eternal S. victrix Meu Amor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The March-foaled grey's second dam Arty Crafty (Arch) is a full-sister to GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H.-winning sire Prince Arch and to the dam of G3 Pride S. winner Ville De Grace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Arty Crafty is also a half-sister to G1 Vincent O'Brien National S.-winning sire Kingsfort (War Chant). Azure Blue is kin to the unraced 2-year-old gelding Keen Interest (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is in training with William Haggas, and a yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire).

Wednesday, York, Britain
1895 DUKE OF YORK CLIPPER S.-G2, £145,000, York, 5-17, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.11, gd.
1–AZURE BLUE (IRE), 133, f, 4, by El Kabeir
1st Dam: Sea Of Dreams (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Arty Crafty, by Arch
3rd Dam: Princess Kris (GB), by Kris (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€19,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 47,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Peter Appleton & Mrs Anne Elliott; B-Debbie Kitchin & Mary Davison (IRE); T-Michael Dods; J-Paul Mulrennan. £82,230. Lifetime Record: 14-7-3-1, $252,410. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Highfield Princess (Fr), 138, m, 6, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £31,175.
3–Commanche Falls (GB), 136, g, 6, Lethal Force (Ire)–Joyeaux (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). (11,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Doug Graham, Ian Davison, Alan Drysdale; B-Redgate Bloodstock & Peter Bottowley Bloodstock (GB); T-Michael Dods. £15,602.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 12.00, 5.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Annaf (Ire), Marshman (GB), Diligent Harry (GB), The Astrologist (Aus), Art Power (Ire), Emaraaty Ana (GB). DNF: Creative Force (Ire). Scratched: Khaadem (Ire).

Azure Blue is a filly in flying form and gets the better of Highfield Princess to win the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes @yorkracecourse under Racing TV ambassador @PMulrennan pic.twitter.com/R5WiVB1sN1

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 17, 2023

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Mulrennan said, “I've been based in Yorkshire for 20 years and to win this prestigious award, it's always something I've wanted to do. I've seen some great jockeys win it over the years and I had a thought recently that if I retired and hadn't won it, it would be something that had slipped through the net.

“I am delighted to have won and I owe a huge thanks to all the owners, trainers and stable staff for putting me up and keeping the horses fit and well and to my agent Richard Hale, as well.”

The post Paul Mulrennan Named Cock O’ The North For 2022 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Barefoot Angel becomes the 53rd pattern-race winner for her sire (by Acclamation {GB}) and the first out of Listed Empress S. third Love In The Desert (Lemon Drop Kid), herself kin to G3 Clasico Cesar del Rio runner-up Andeluna (Mineshaft) and to the dam of six black-type performers headed by the multiple stakes-winning Roy's Revenge (Ven) (League Of Nations). Barefoot Angel's third dam Brackish (Alleged), a half-sister to GI Matron S.-winning blue hen Fall Aspen (Pretense), produced a trio of stakes winners headed by G1 Derby Italiano runner-up Merzouk (Theatrical {Ire}). Love In The Desert's fourth foal is a yearling filly by Invincible Army (Ire).

Saturday, Ayr, Britain
VIRGIN BET FIRTH OF CLYDE FILLIES' S.-G3, £40,000, Ayr, 9-17, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.67, gd.
1–BAREFOOT ANGEL (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Love In The Desert (GB) (SP-Eng), by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Jenny Lake, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Brackish, by Alleged
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€120,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Mrs H Steel; B-Guy O'Callaghan (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Paul Mulrennan. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $35,049. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Believing (Ire), 128, f, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Misfortunate (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (70,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; 115,000gns 2yo '22 TATBRE). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Jane Addams); B-M Mullen & Cloneymore Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey. £8,600.
3–Queen Me (Ire), 128, f, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Queen Kindly (GB), by Frankel (GB). O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £4,304.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 20.00, 12.00, 1.50.
Also Ran: Minnetonka (Ire), Secret Angel (Ire), Bonny Angel (GB), Marine Wave (Ire), Poetic Union (GB), Maria Branwell (Ire), Carmela (Ire), Lunarscape (GB), All The Time (Ire). Scratched: Immortal Beauty (Ire).

Barefoot Angel (20-1) stays arrow-straight down the centre of the track to win the Group 3 @VirginBet Firth of Clyde Fillies' Stakes @ayrracecourse for @PMulrennan and @RichardFahey pic.twitter.com/65isxjQHlQ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 17, 2022

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This year's Northumberland Plate hero was the 14/1 outsider in a field of six that included unexposed stayer Coltrane, prolific All-Weather winner Rainbow Dreamer, and last year's scorer Island Brave.

Trained by Jim Goldie, Nicholas T was held up for his customary late challenge by Paul Mulrennan as the free-going Mr Curiosity injected pace into the race approaching halfway.

The runners came up the middle of the track in the straight and Nicholas T made good progress on the outside to challenge at the two-furlong pole while Rainbow Dreamer and Alignak also held every chance.

The trio were virtually in a line approaching the final furlong and it was Nicholas T who finished strongest to win by three parts of a length. Rainbow Dreamer ran a good race on his return to take second, with Alignak a further half-length back in third.

Goldie said: “We were just debating whether it was clever to beat a horse rated 108! I guess it's all systems go for Finals Day now.

“Nicholas T has a very good record here having also won a handicap and the Northumberland Plate, and it was probably a career-best today. I don't know what the handicapper will make of it but that is academic as far as the final is concerned.

“Newcastle suits horses like him who enjoy coming from off the pace and it helped today that they went a good gallop – I think the winning time [3:31.13] was quicker than his Plate win. He relaxed well and has a potent turn of foot for a stayer.

“We have been itching to give him a break. We had notions of winning the Plate again but we have probably buggered that now!

“He should have a live chance in the final based on that performance – the second is a very talented horse – and we will get him ready for that now.”

The post Nicholas T Victorious In Betway Conditions Stakes At Newcastle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Apple Tree Stud's manager is the former leading jumps jockey Robert Thornton and he said, “She wasn't far behind John Gosden's horse [Loving Dream] at Wetherby last time and there were extenuating circumstances for our filly, as she was stood in the stalls for 10 minutes and got shuffled back. We thought she'd run well today, but she's surprised us that she's won.” As far as a tilt at the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks is concerned, Thornton was positive. “I think we sort of have to–I'm not sure how many chances you get to do that type of thing and it's a dream to have runners in those type of races,” he added. “She's handled all types of ground and handled the undulations today, so we may as well have a go. She'll stay galloping, so you never know, she could run into a place.”

Successful on her only other start on Newcastle's Tapeta Feb. 11, Sherbet Lemon is a half-sister to the strong-staying G1 Melbourne Cup third Il Paradiso (Galileo {Ire}) and to the stakes-placed Love Beach (Bernardini). The dam, who was runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. for Ballydoyle, is a full-sister to the four-times group 1-winning champion and successful Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) and a half to the GIII Locust Grove H. winner Genuine Devotion (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). This is also the family of the brilliant G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sakhee (Bahri), fellow sire Celestial Storm (Roberto) and the G2 Middleton S. winner Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Her 2-year-old colt Bad Gus is by More Than Ready, while she also has a filly foal by Tapit.

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
NOVIBET OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' S.-Listed, £40,000, Lingfield, 5-8, 3yo, f, 11f 133yT, 2:40.99, sf.
1–SHERBET LEMON, 126, f, 3, by Lemon Drop Kid
1st Dam: Famous (Ire) (G1SP-Ire, $210,166), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair (Ire)
3rd Dam: Reves Celestes, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Apple Tree Stud; B-Mt Brilliant Broodmares II LLC (KY); T-Archie Watson; J-Paul Mulrennan. £22,992. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $37,373. *1/2 to Il Paradiso (Galileo {Ire), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, G1SP-Aus & GSP-Eng, $465,393.
2–Save A Forest (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Bark (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £8,724.
3–Ocean Road (Ire), 126, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Love and Laughter (Ire), by Theatrical (Ire). (140,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 150,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Kevin & Meta Cullen (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £4,364.
Margins: 3/4, 1, NK. Odds: 28.00, 12.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Divinely (Ire), Loving Dream (GB), Nash Nasha (GB), Technique (GB), Regent (GB). Scratched: Invite (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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