'She's a star' - Group 1 ambitions for Blue Bolt after winning Duke of Cambridge Stakes for Andrew Balding and Colin Keane

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Blue Bolt justified 5-2 favouritism in convincing style under Colin Keane for trainer Andrew Balding in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes. 

Owned by Juddmonte, the four-year-old daughter of Blue Point backed up a Listed success at Goodwood last time out after travelling strongly throughout the field of 15.

Turning for home, Blue Bolt was able to reel in the front-running Shes Perfect and showed a sharp turn of foot, pulling a length and three-quarters clear of Jancis, while denying second favourite Friendly Soul, who finished third. 

Friendly Soul, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly who was fortunately unharmed after stepping into a hole at Haydock last month, briefly came under pressure after dropping back through the field, but Oisin Murphy rallied her to good effect, although she was unable to provide the stable with a fifth victory in the race in the past decade.

Blue Bolt has finished outside of the first two only once in her eight starts, with that defeat coming on her debut, and could now be set for a return to the highest level in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month.

Paddy Power cut her to 4-1 (from 8) for what would be her second attempt at a Group 1. Her first came when she signed off last season by finishing runner-up to Fallen Angel in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in October.

The winning trainer said: "She's a star, and we really felt she would improve physically over the winter. We were really looking forward to this year. She achieved a high level last season, and she's improved again.

"We'll be looking at Group 1 level now, and the Falmouth would be a good fit if she comes out of this race well."

A beaming Colin Keane after winning on Blue PointCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was a fourth Royal Ascot success for Keane, 31, and a second in Juddmonte's silks, having partnered Field Of Gold to victory in last year's St James's Palace Stakes.

He said: "I'm very lucky to be wearing these silks and riding these horses, and I'm in a very privileged position.

"Last year she came a long way in a short space of time, and she's a bigger, stronger filly this year. Hopefully, she can keep progressing.

"She's a lovely filly and she had a lovely first run back. Andrew thought she would come on a lot from that and had her cherry-ripe."

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