Angel Bleu Returns To Brilliant Best At Goodwood
Angel Blue sprouted wings in the finish of the Gr.2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood yesterday to claim the fifth Stakes win on his career so far.
The four-year-old son of Dark Angel was one of the leading two-year-olds of 2021, winning the Gr.1 Criterium International, Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Gr.2 Vintage Stakes. He was restricted to just three starts at three without success, but got back on track in the Listed Spring Trophy Stakes in May. Runner-up in the Spring Trophy, Holguin took the field of seven along in the 1m contest, tracked by Epictetus. They crossed over to the stands’ side on entering the straight and Angel Blue was stuck behind Epictetus, who was going nowhere fast. Having rounded that rival, he then found Holguin blocking his path, while Charyn (Dark Angel) raced into the lead. Hector Crouch navigated a path up the rail and, no sooner had Knight hit the front, Angel Blue flew home to win by half a length. Charyn was a length and a quarter further back in third.
“It was extraordinary luck for Goodwood to get half an inch of rain for Angel Bleu in the morning, which was something that was never forecast,” said Beckett. “But he still had to do it and the head-on showed that his appetite for the game is undiminished.
” I was really proud of him and I thought he got a fantastic ride. Hector [Crouch] has never ridden better than he is right now.”
Beckett added: “It will depend on what kind of autumn we get, but the Prix du Moulin would be a good fit for him if it came up soft. He’s shown a distinct liking for Longchamp and that would be the obvious step, we’ll see how that develops. He’s in the Foret as well and there’s lots of stuff for him if conditions are right.”
Bred by Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock, Angel Blue was a €120,000 private purchase by Jamie McCalmont from the Arqana Select Yearling Sale. He the first of just two foals to date out of Cercle De La Vie, a full-sister to the seven-time Gr.1 winner and sire Highland Reel, the Australian Gr.1 winner and sire Cape Of Good Hope and the Gr.2 winner and multiple Gr.1- placed sire Idaho.
