Blue Bolt far too good in Matron Stakes

Andrew Balding’s Juddmonte-owned four-year-old has been the outstanding filly of the season, winning all five outings and proving unbeatable in elite company of late.

She was always in a handy position in the hands of birthday boy Colin Keane, sat just behind the tempo set by Carolina Jetstream and defending champion Fallen Angel.

And when the race developed inside the final quarter-mile she once again demonstrated her blistering turn of foot to register a two-and-a-quarter-length success over City Of Memphis as the 4-5 favourite.

“It was an easy watch to be honest. You just have a little bit of jitters when you’re expected to win, but watching the race we never really had an anxious moment,” said Balding.

“Colin was always in the right place. It was run at a true gallop and she looked very good.

“She was tough to train at two, we didn’t even get her on the racecourse.

“We started at Southwell, getting beaten at odds on, and she hasn’t looked back since then.

“She’s pretty special, she’s just got better and better and she’s a beautiful physical to look at as well. She really is a lovely filly.”

When put to him it would be exciting if she stayed in training he added: “I wouldn’t say no, but it’s not my decision.”

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “She’s been a real revelation this year, she’s matured. At the back-end of last year we’d seen signs that the Group One was in sight.

“In fairness to Andrew and the team at Kingsclere they’ve done some job this year and campaigned her beautifully.

“She just keeps improving, I think that was probably her most impressive performance this year.”

On the possibility of staying in training, Mahon said: “At the end of the year we sit down and make those decisions.

“They (family of the late Khalid Abdullah) are not opposed to keeping a five-year-old in training so who knows. That’ll be very much a decision for them at the end of the year.”