Blue Bolt pips old foe Precise in Prix Rothschild

The Andrew Balding-trained filly was locking horns once again with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes heroine who was two lengths behind her in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last month.

However, there was much less between them at the line this time around, as both horses attempted to close down leader Moon Target - the Coronation fourth trained by Sir Mark Prescott - with two furlongs to run.

Blue Bolt made her challenge on the stands' side rail on her own, while Precise challenged front-runner Moon Target down the centre, with little between the trio with a furlong to run.

As Precise edged to the lead in the middle, Blue Bolt was running on well, and it was the last-named who was able to provide her trainer with yet another Group One success, prevailing by less than half a length.

Falmouth fourth Evolutionist filled the same position once more, one place behind Moon Target in a 1-2-3-4 for Britain and Ireland.

Winning trainer Balding said after the race: "She's some filly, she really is. Colin [Keane] gave her a great ride, but it wasn't a comfortable watch - I thought she was beaten. 

"She has great physical strength for a filly, and great desire. That all helps. 

"She's not an easy ride at home, she likes to take control of things. She knows her strengths. She's effective on any ground which is a big help. 

"We always felt that [the Matron Stakes at] Leopardstown would be her race this year, so we won't lose sight of that – afterwards, who knows where she will go?" 

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Precise, said:“I am very pleased with her. In the Falmouth Stakes, Blue Bolt beat her by two lengths, whereas today she finished only half a length behind, despite the weight conditions being less favourable to her. She therefore ran very well.

"She may step up in distance on her next start; we will see whether that is necessary. Her future programme has not yet been decided, and we will take some time to consider it.”

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Cheveley Park Stud, breeder and owner of Moon Target, said:“We are delighted with this third place. The plan was to go to the front, as there was no obvious pacemaker in the race. It therefore seemed logical to try to control the race from the lead at a steady pace and make the others come and catch us.

"Obviously, the winner, Blue Bolt, was very impressive. Precise finished second, confirming the pecking order we have seen since the beginning of the year. Last year, our filly finished second to Precise in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. In the Coronation Stakes, those two fillies also finished ahead of us when we took fourth place. We felt that we had been a little unlucky at Ascot.

"Looking ahead, I think we will probably keep her over a mile. Some of these very good fillies are going into battle race after race. Our filly was a little fresher, and we will try to keep her that way. She needs time between her races.

"We learned that last year, when we ran her again too quickly. This year, we will space out her races more carefully. We will therefore see how she recovers from this run.”