Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes
Fillies Group 1, Curragh 15:30
Winner: €300,000 guaranteed
1m 2f   
Saturday 29th June 2024

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1 Bluestocking 11/10F
2 Emily Upjohn 3/1
3 Content 12/1
8 ran Distances: ½l, 3¾l, 2¾l
Time: 2m 10.09s (slow by 4.49s)

Bluestocking made a dramatic late surge to clinch the Group One title in the Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the filly had previously finished second in two top-tier races last season, narrowly missing out in the Irish Oaks to Savethelastdance by half a length and in the Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot to Poptronic by just a neck.

Starting her season with a dominant six-length victory in the Middleton Stakes, Bluestocking was the 11-10 favourite at the Curragh, with Rossa Ryan expertly guiding her from behind as Lumiere Rock set the early pace. Kieran Shoemark appeared to have secured victory with Emily Upjohn, building a significant lead two furlongs from the finish. However, Bluestocking found her stride in the final furlong, overtaking Emily Upjohn to win by half a length, with Content finishing nearly four lengths behind in third.

“It was great. Rossa had an inkling that Emily Upjohn might go forward at some point. In a way it helped us, in a way it was tough for her to run down but it gave us something to aim at,” said Beckett.

“It’s great to get it done. Last Irish Oaks Day will live long in the memory for the wrong reasons but it doesn’t matter now.”

Beckett opted to leave the cheekpieces off Bluestocking this time and explained: “We thought about it but last time she travelled so well through the race we thought we’d leave them. We have the right to put them back on of course.

“I thought she was always going to get there in the end, I thought she was always going to pick up, as she finds plenty under pressure.”

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Bluestocking was cut for a range of summer highlights and is 5-2 favourite with Quinnbet for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and the same price for the Yorkshire Oaks.

Beckett added: “You’d think the Nassau is the right place to go and she clearly enjoys York, she’s run well twice there, so the Yorkshire Oaks will probably be a good idea as well.

“I don’t think trip is that important, I just think conditions have to be right and they were today.”

Bluestocking runs in the colours of Juddmonte, with the filly hailing from one of the owner-breeder’s established families.

European racing manager Barry Mahon said: “The dam (Emulous) won the Matron in Leopardstown, so she was a high-class filly. She had speed to win a Group One over a mile.

“Last year, we sat down at the end of the season and felt we probably stretched the filly a little bit with a mile and a half and I think she’s a revelation this year back over 10 furlongs.

“This means a lot to Juddmonte. We have two bases here in Ireland and a lot of staff. It means a lot to Prince Khalid’s family and all the staff. It’s a great result and we’re very happy.”

Ryan was thrilled to strike Group One gold and said: “It is brilliant!

“She had to dig deep with me and I thought Kieran had gone on me.

“We hadn’t gone overly quick and my plan was to take a lead off one. I didn’t think I would get shuffled back that far but, by God, she’s tough.

“I’m so delighted really for everyone at home in Kimpton – they are the unsung heroes. Eric, who looks after him, is not here today, but he definitely deserves it.”

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Pretty Polly Stakes (Fillies' Group 1)
Winner: €300,000, 3yo plus, 1m 2f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    Bluestocking 4 9-12 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 11/10F
2 (4) ½ Emily Upjohn 5 9-12 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark 3/1
3 (5) 3¾ Content 3 9-0 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 12/1
4 (6) 2¾ Lumiere Rock 4 9-12 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 11/1
5 (7) 3½ Stay Alert 5 9-12 Hughie Morrison David Egan 17/2
6 (8) ¾ Tasmania 4 9-12 Sir Mark Prescott Bt Luke Morris 20/1
7 (1) 3½ Maxux 4 9-12 Joseph O'Brien Mikey Sheehy 33/1
8 (2) 4½ Francophone 3 9-0 Charlie Johnston Joe Fanning 11/1

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