Azure Blue

Azure Blue only finished fourth in the three-year-olds’ six-furlong handicap at York on Sunday, but she was only beaten a total of just over a length, and she did well to get as close as she did from her high draw.  Slowly away from stall nine, she was settled behind the leaders on the near side.  The ultimate winner Lucky Man led over on the far side, and he was tracked through the early stages of the race by the eventual runner-up Aphelios, as Azure Blue raced towards the rear, and closest to the stands rail.  She picked up well when Connor Beasley asked her to, and she moved to the front on the near side, but she was on her own on the near side as Lucky Man and Aphelios duelled on the far side, away from her, and they were joined over there by Aleezdancer.  They raced in a diagonal line, far side to near side, past the two-furlong marker, Azure Blue was really the only one to break that line, and she raced closest to the stands rail, she had the most running to do, furthest from the far-side runners.  Her run flattened out a little close home, but she still kept on gamely.

It was a good run by Michael Dods’ filly on her first run since she won a handicap at Newmarket in July.  The handicapper raised her by 4lb for that win, but she proved here that she was well up to a mark of 89.  Six furlongs is her trip, she can handle easy ground as well as good and fast ground, and she will be of interest wherever she goes next.
York, 4th September 2022