Denton Hall News

Dods hails Azure Blue as 'exciting prospect' as stable hits 50-winner mark and passes £1m in prizemoney

TRAINER Michael Dods has described Azure Blue as “an exciting prospect” after she took a big step up in class to land the listed Blue Point EBF Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket under David Egan today.

The progressive three-year-old El Kabeir filly, owned by Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott, has now won four this season and five in her career.

Her victory took the Denton Hall yard to the 50-winner mark for the season and past the £1m in total prizemoney for the current campaign. It’s the first time the stable has surpassed the £1m milestone for a single season in Great Britain races alone, not counting Ireland and France.

Dods said tonight: “We always like to get to 50 for the season, and it’s obviously nice to get to the £1m mark too. It’s testament to the hard work of the staff and the jockeys, as well as the support of the owners.”

The trainer confirmed that Azure Blue won’t run again this season, adding: “She’s done well all season but that was an impressive step up today. She’s strengthened up and I thought she travelled extremely well through the race before putting it to bed very quickly once she hit the front.

“She’ll have a rest now but she’s an exciting prospect for next year and there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Gale Force Maya ran gallantly to be fourth in the same race, with Connor Beasley suggesting she was feeling the effects of a hard race on ground softer than she likes at Ascot on October 1. That’s also it for the season for Frank Lowe’s tough-as-teak mare, who has done the stable proud with five wins this season.

“We couldn’t be more delighted with how she’s performed this season and she’s earned her rest,” said Dods.

“A lot of the horses will be having a break now but there’s a few we’ll keep going with and, hopefully, there’s a few more winners to come yet.”