High-class Blue Bolt stamps her authority on Matron Stakes

Blue Bolt made it a hat-trick of Group One victories, in three different countries, with an authoritative performance in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

The 4/5 favourite was tanking along in a share of third behind Carolina Jetstream and Fallen Angel with fully three furlongs left.

The front pair began to exert their jockeys' arms on the turn in as Blue Bolt got a lovely split at the '2' pole.

She was given the office to lead charging to the final furlong and opened up in the final 100 yards to seal the first prize by two and a quarter lengths over City Of Memphis (9/1) with Fallen Angel in third at 8/1.

Colin Keane, who rode a double on the card, said: "You'd be hoping she would do that. She has gone from strength to strength this year and she's a very good mare.

"It is becoming our biggest weekend for the year and I've had a strong book of rides coming here this weekend, so it is nice to get two on the board in these colours (Juddmonte) - very important.

"She's quick from the stalls, she's a high-cruiser and she lengthens. You'd be only getting in her way trying to do something different, so I try to keep it as simple as possible."

Andrew Balding said: “It was an easy watch to be honest. You just have a little bit of jitters when you're expected to win but, watching the race, we never really had an anxious moment.

“Colin was always in the right place. It was run at a true gallop and she looked very good.

“She was tough to train at two, we didn't even get her on the racecourse.

“We started at Southwell, getting beaten at odds on and she hasn't looked back since then.

“She's pretty special, she's just got better and better and she's a beautiful physical to look at as well. She really is a lovely filly.”

When put to him it would be exciting if she stayed in training he added: “I wouldn't say no but it's not my decision.”

Barry Mahon from Juddmonte, added:- “She's been a real revelation this year, she's matured. At the back end of last year, we saw signs that the Group 1 was in sight.

“In fairness to Andrew and the team at Kingsclere, they've done some job this year and campaigned her beautifully.

“She just keeps improving, I think that was probably her most impressive performance this year.

"She was bred by the Hayes in Knocktoran, she has a beautiful pedigree. Her mother (Mayhem) was a very good race mare and she's bred some good fillies.

“Luckily for us the owners purchased her in Arqana for €400,000. She has a great physical, a brilliant pedigree and now and unbelievable race record. She's an exciting broodmare down the line.”

When asked if she could be kept in training he added: “At the end of the year, usually after Champions Weekend or the Breeders Cup, we sit down and make those decisions.

“They are not opposed to keeping a five-year-old in training, so who knows. That'll be very much a decision for them at the end of the year.”

Keane also landed the opening Ingabelle Stakes on Maire Rua (5/2).

This was Blue Bolt's fifth win in a row and her third successive top-level success following on from the Falmouth in Newmarket and the Prix Rothschild in Deauville.

Paddy Power made Blue Bolt 8/13f from even money for the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson