€600,000 Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1): Bluestocking in full bloom

Sunday, September 15, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The English filly Bluestocking (Camelot) started as the favourite for the €600,000 Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1), the autumn championship for fillies and mares which, given the calendar, is also the best stepping stone for them en route to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, also run over 1m4f. The representative of Juddmonte Farms, the breeding operation of the late Khalid Abdullah, had just finished 4th in the International Stakes (Gr1) at York, over an extended 10f trip, behind three 3-year-old colts, after taking 2nd place in the King George (Gr1) at Ascot. A maiden in 2023 while finishing on the podium several times in very high-level races, such as the Irish Oaks (Gr1), where she finished 2nd, Bluestocking has blossomed this season and fully deserved this second Group 1, almost three months after her first, in Ireland in the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr1).

In a homogeneous field of twelve runners, the charge of Ralph Beckett, whose stable is located in Hampshire, was ridden in a rather positive manner from her draw in stall 9, in the slipstream of the pacesetter Halfday (Lope de Vega), who went to the front to serve the cause of the other two representatives of Wertheimer & Frère, Aventure (Sea the Stars) and Mosaïque (Dubawi). She herself was showing the way to Aventure, precisely, and Emily Upjohn (Sea the Stars), one of her usual opponents across the Channel. The winner of the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) Sparkling Plenty (Kingman) was galloping at the rear with her wide draw in stall 12.

At the entrance to the straight, Halfday moved aside to let Bluestocking through, still marked by Aventure, then on a 3rd line to allow the latter to find her day, while Emily Upjohn had to go around this leading group. Until the end, Aventure continued to attack Bluestocking but the latter remained inflexible. She won by almost a length with a good finish from Emily Upjohn who took 3rd place, half a length behind Aventure. Sparkling Plenty finished well from too far behind.

Bluestocking is out of the Matron Stakes (Gr1) winner Emulous (Dansili).

An older sister of Bluestocking, the 8-year-old War and Peace (Frankel), was sold last December for £190,000 at Tattersalls, in foal to Pinatubo, to Henry Lascelles. Her daughter by Too Darn Hot, the 2-year-old Cathedral, reached €800,000 at the Arqana breeze-ups last May.

What connections said:

Ralph Beckett – the trainer of Bluestocking (1re) – trained in Britain

«  What courage! Bluestocking seemed beaten... but she's simply very tough. Lately, she's been working exceptionally well. However, a few details made me doubt the wisdom of coming here. However, she's proved  that she loves this course. She is entered in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on 19 October. But she got beaten in this race [second] last year. For that reason, if she's in good shape, and if her connections are all in agreement, I'd be very tempted to supplement her for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. So today's test suited her in that sense. And when the horses are happy to race, as she showed today, I think that you have to keep going. Everything points to her acting in all types of grounds save for fast ground. On this occasion [Sunday] the ground clearly rated slower than the 2023 Arc Meeting. Some ease in the ground will always be to her advantage. »

Rossa Ryan – the jockey of Bluestocking (1st) – Britain

«We changed tactics. Bluestocking adapted very well and travelled very well [during the race]. She has never showed a snappier turn of foot. »

Christophe Ferland – the trainer of Aventure (2nd) – Chantilly (Oise region)

« We came across the proverbial immovable object! The winner is a year older and certainly more battle-hardened than Aventure. Nevertheless, the filly ran a very fine race, even if this second place leaves a little bit of a sour taste, given that Aventure quickened into the lead 200 metres from the post. She has lost no caste in defeat and we'll have to see how she comes out of the race when it comes to planning the rest of her season. »

John Gosden – co-trainer with his son Thady of Emily Upjohn (3rd) - Britain

The form of the  Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes is working out really well, given the victory of Bluestocking and my protégée taking third. The second, Aventure, is a very good filly. The top 3-year-olds and older fillies/mares were all concerned at the finish. We're pleased with Emily Upjohn. The ground was a bit sticky today. She prefers faster surfaces. But we saw what we wanted to see. She wouldn't go for the Arc if the rains materialise. Instead, we would be more likely to go to the United States for the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Breeders' Cup, where she'll find the fast conditions that she relishes. »