Relentless Blue Bolt fires Andrew Balding to top of trainers' championship with fourth Group 1 win in a row

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Blue Bolt delivered a first Sun Chariot Stakes for Andrew Balding and Juddmonte in impressive fashion to propel the trainer to the top of the trainers' table and take some pressure off the team before Kalpana's bid for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe glory on Sunday.

The star filly has been a major contributor to Balding's championship challenge and in winning her fourth Group 1 of the season she helped him overtake Aidan O'Brien as title leader on £8,219,136, with the defending champion £68,000 behind by the end of the afternoon's action.

Balding will not be able to rely on the potentially Breeders' Cup-bound Blue Bolt for British Champions Day on October 17, a date the trainer believes will be crucial in determining whether he can clinch a first championship.

"It's great but there's a lot to play for still," Balding said. "If we're still top after Champions Day I'll be very happy but we're not going to be very strong then, so I can't get too excited."

Andrew Balding after Blue Bolt had won at NewmarketCredit: Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.

Blue Bolt showed no signs of fatigue after a busy season as she was awarded best turned out before storming clear of Evolutionist and City Of Memphis. The victory followed on from wins in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, Falmouth Stakes, Prix Rothschild and Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.

Like the previous races on the card, the seven-runner field gravitated to the stands' rail with Moon Target at the head of affairs, but she was swept aside by old rival Blue Bolt in the Dip and the race was quickly put to bed.

Blue Bolt was going one better in the mile feature than last year when she chased home Fallen Angel, and may not be done yet with connections mulling several Keeneland options. She is the 3-1 favourite for the Filly & Mare Turf on October 31.

As she was sent off at 1-4, there were some relieved connections in the winner's enclosure afterwards as the previous shortest-priced winner was Indian Skimmer, who was sent off at 40-85 in 1988.

Balding said: "There's always a bit of pressure when they're long odds-on in a Group 1, but the pressure is off now and we can enjoy tomorrow. That was an enjoyable watch. She was second in this a year ago and she's come on a lot since then, but that was the beginning of realising her potential."

On future plans, he said: "She's still in the QEII but that comes soon enough and she has options at the Breeders' Cup, where she could take on the boys. If the long-term plan is to stay in training she would have all year to take them on in 2027, but we'll have to see what the owners want to do.

"She's been amazing and the programme is great for these fillies which really encourages you to keep them in training at four. When she came back from her winter holidays at Juddmonte she was in fantastic shape and it's great to repay the faith they have in me."

Blue Bolt and Colin Keane win the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes for trainer Andrew Balding at Newmarket

Blue Bolt and Colin Keane after the Sun Chariot Stakes at NewmarketCredit: Steve Davies/Racingmediapics.co.

Colin Keane is cherishing these wins in his role as Juddmonte's retained rider and believes Blue Bolt would handle the style of racing in the US.

"She has gone from strength to strength this year," he said. "Today she was fresher than she has been in the past. After going a couple of furlongs she latched on for a few strides, but she then spat it back out when the pace went on and we had something to aim at. When I asked her she quickened up well and did what she has been doing all year.

“When they start racking up wins and go unbeaten, some day they have to get beat at some point, but you hope it will never come. With Juddmonte not having won the race, to get it done was special.

"I couldn’t see why she wouldn’t handle America as you saw how well she handled Leopardstown. I know America will be a tighter track, but the way she races I don’t see it being a problem."

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