Poptronic set for sales date after putting seal on her career at Ascot

Poptronic is likely to bow out at the top following her thrilling success in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.

Karl Burke’s four-year-old was sent off as a relatively unfancied 22-1 chance, but produced a career-best effort in the hands of Sam James, showing real bravery as she made every yard for a first success at the highest level.

It was a welcome return to form for the Lancashire Oaks scorer, who had disappointed in her two previous starts and Burke believes the switch to the inner track allowed her stamina to come to the fore in testing conditions on British Champions Day.

“She was brilliant and did very well,” said Burke. “She has always been a very good filly and was given a great ride by Sam James.

“I think the switch to the inner track was to her advantage. It was half a furlong shorter and the way the race was run we got our own way in front. It all worked out brilliantly well.

“She’s a strong stayer over a mile and a half and over one-three and a bit we could make more use of her. She’s a galloper, but a high-class galloper.”

Poptronic’s Ascot success means she now has victories in every season she has been in training at Spigot Lodge, with the final act of her on-track career seeing her add a Group One triumph to her enviable CV.

Owned and bred by David and Yvonne Blunt, the daughter of Nathaniel is catalogued to be sold at Tattersalls later in the year where she will be one of the features in the Sceptre Sessions during the December Mare Sale.

“She’s got a date at the sales and as far as I know she will be going there at the beginning of December,” continued Burke.

“The owners were on a high on Saturday and thinking that over, but I think it is probably the right thing to do with her.

“She’s a winner at two, three and four with a couple of Group races in there and we’ve been very happy with her.”