Blue Bolt aiming to strike at extended trip in Filly & Mare Turf Europe’s leading lady Blue Bolt has the chance to cement her legacy in America when she steps up in distance for the Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old has carried all before her this season, winning six on the spin and dominating the top fillies’ races at a mile in England, France and Ireland. Left with the choice of taking on the colts and geldings over the distance she has proven unbeatable or stepping up in trip to remain amongst her own sex, the Kingsclere handler elected for the latter, optimistic the extra yards will prove no issue when she attempts to end her phenomenal year on a high. Balding said: “It wasn’t a straightforward decision (which race to go for), but we felt trying the extra (distance) against fillies was better than taking on the boys over a mile. “It’s the end of a long season, but we felt she was stronger at the end of her races and that a two-turn track would be within her compass. “It would have been preferable to be a little further in (than stall 12), but I’m sure Colin (Keane) will work it out.” Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine Precise has so far struggled to lay a glove on Blue Bolt in their three previous tussles, settling for second in both the Falmouth Stakes and Prix Rothschild. However, Aidan O’Brien will be hoping for a different outcome when they clash over a new trip, with the daughter of Starspangledbanner second in her first try at further in the Prix de l’Opera earlier this month. O’Brien said: “We were delighted with her run and Ryan (Moore) had to take his time on her. We have to be happy that she would get nine (furlongs) anyway, and we are looking forward to this race with her.” Other raiders from Ireland include Ger Lyons’ Red Letter, who like Blue Bolt will sport the silks of Juddmonte, while Willie McCreery sends over Jancis, who was last seen finishing a neck third behind the reopposing Give A Nother (Graham Motion) in Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Stakes. Chad Brown’s Kathynmarissa denied Stuart Williams’ Sunlit Uplands in the Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont and is one of the leading US contenders. Meanwhile, Oisin Murphy has switched allegiance to the home team to partner Brad Cox’s Bless The Broken, last seen finishing third behind Classic Q (Mark Casse) and Lush Lips (Brendan Walsh) in Keeneland’s First Lady Stakes. Murphy said: “She’s had some good runs, but you have to respect Precise and especially Blue Bolt, who has been the outstanding filly in Europe this year. It will be interesting to see how the Americans weigh up against the Europeans.”
