Denton Hall News

Azure Blue, Northern Express and Woven make it a day to remember

Michael Dods has had a day to remember with a hat-trick at three different courses with Azure Blue, Northern Express and Woven.

Progressive four-year-old filly Azure Blue led the way impressing again in listed company at Newmarket, making it four wins from her last five runs. Then Northern Express followed up by landing the Vickers.Bet Thirsk Hunt Cup under Callum Rodriquez, and Woven made it a hat-trick at Doncaster with Phil Dennis riding.

'This filly's the real deal,' says Paul Mulrennan after Azure Blue's smooth victory in the Howden British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes at headquarters.

Interviewed after the race by ITV Racing's Oli Bell, Mulrennan said: "She's a lovely filly. She travelled like a dream and I get there a bit too soon. She'll improve a fair bit for the run and this filly's the real deal.

"She surprised me how sharp she's got, she's so much quicker, and Michael Dods works wonders with these fillies."

Trainer Michael Dods added: "There's no reason to believe she won't develop into a Group filly because she's improved rapidly.

"We knew she'd strengthened up over the winter and she wasn't fully wound up for her first run by any means, but the manner she did it in was excellent.

"She struck the front a bit too soon but by the way she travelled, it looked like she could come back to five furlongs if needed. She travelled extremely well through the race - better than last year but we wouldn't want to be running her on ground that's too quick."

Azure Blue, owned by Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott, who had another good filly with the stable in Que Amoro, is entered in the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes at York on May 17. However, Dods said a decision on where she goes next would be left until he'd spoken to the owners.

Northern Express stayed on gamely to win the Vickers.Bet Thirsk Hunt Cup - the third time the yard has won the historic race in recent years. Finn Class won it in 2016 under Tom Eaves, and Osteopathic Remedy triumphed back in 2010.

Dods said: "It's a nice race to win and he again travelled extremely well. It was an impressive performance and we'll probably look to go to York with him now."

Woven's victory came in the Harrison College Handicap over six furlongs, underlining the fact that the yard has hit a rich vein of form.

Main picture: Azure Blue winning previously at Hamilton