Dante Festival: Azure Blue set for return to action

Trainer Michael Dods has confirmed that star sprinter Azure Blue is on track to return to action next Wednesday in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at the curtain-raising Dante Festival at York Racecourse.

The five-year-old mare lit up the season opener of the Knavesmire season 12 months ago when she sped to success in the £150,000 Group 2 contest.

Yet Azure Blue made only one further start in 2023, finishing sixth of eight behind Shaquille in the Group 1 Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket.

Dods, who trains at Piercebridge near Darlington, said: “She had a bit of a setback with her feet and then she had ulcers, which finished her early. She seems fine now. Obviously, it’s a long time since she last ran but we’re happy with her.

“Unless we have any problems between now and next week, the plan is to definitely come to York. We probably could have done with another few weeks before the race, but it is the right race to set her off in. Whatever she does there, she will come on a lot for the run.

“We’ve been quite easy on her, but she looks great. Paul Mulrennan sat on her yesterday and was pleased with her. She is where we want her to start, but there’s a lot of improvement after the race.”

Dods, who is expecting to give Azure Blue a further piece of fast work on Saturday, is looking forward to having the speedster back in action for 2024.

He added: “We think we’ve sorted her feet out and everything else. As I say, she’ll probably be a bit fat inside and probably will need the run.

“We’re hopeful and we even wouldn’t be surprised if, at some stage this season, she does come back to five furlongs.”

Dods also had the third in last year’s renewal of the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes with Commanche Falls.

Now seven, the evergreen gelding is poised for another crack at the six-furlong contest after making his seasonal bow in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month when finishing mid-division, beaten just over four lengths.

Dods said: “Commanche Falls ran well in the race last year. At the moment, he would definitely be running as well.”

A total of 15 horses stood their ground at the latest confirmation stage for the race. Among a cluster of intriguing potential runners are the Abernant Stakes first and second Washington Heights and Mill Stream.

Thirteen fillies make up the initial entry for the £130,000 Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes and include the unbeaten Friendly Soul, who landed the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket for John & Thady Gosden on Sunday. The Clarehaven operation have won six of the last eight renewals. 

Also based in Newmarket is last season’s Group 1 Fillies’ Mile fourth Classical Song, one of three entries here for Ralph Beckett. The extended mile and a quarter race is always a key pointer towards the Betfred Oaks, staged at Epsom Downs on the final day of this month, with Soul Sister in 2023 becoming the eighth filly to do the double.

The three-day Dante Festival starts on Wednesday 15 May with the 2.15pm Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Jorvik Handicap getting the £1.5m under way.