Inner City Blues Remains Unbeaten After Classy Performance In Gr.2 July Stakes at Newmarket
Godolphin’s Inner City Blues justified favouritism with a convincing victory in the 6f July Stakes at Newmarket yesterday, enhancing his reputation as one of the operation’s leading juvenile prospects. Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, the two-year-old colt settled towards the rear of the tactical three runner field as Adaay Of Scarlett and Hickory Lad disputed the lead. The tempo lifted approaching the two-furlong marker, with Buick angling Inner City Blues to the outside of Hickory Lad before asking his mount to quicken. Once in the clear, the favourite readily asserted inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter over Adaay Of Scarlett, while Hickory Lad finished a further length and a half back in third.
After the race, Appleby said: “There was good form coming into the race and he had a gap to bridge there in respect from a maiden to taking on Stakes horses. “But we had the confidence in him. He looks a lovely physical horse. He came from the Arqana breeze-up, and the team done a good job picking him out. “Obviously, being by Blue Point, my heart’s always going to rule my head with him. I’m not saying he’s similar, but he’s got the stature of his father. He’s getting stronger by the week now. “It will be interesting to see what William’s [Buick] got to say. It wouldn’t surprise me if he said step him up to seven.” Buick added: “He was well on top at the finish.
He was a bit like that when he ran first time out at York. “Obviously, today being his second run, he was still sort of a bit inexperienced. But he’s a lovely horse to deal with. Very straightforward. “He feels like he’ll get seven. But I also have a feeling he may be a horse that could just be getting quicker a bit as well, you know. “He’s a nice horse with a great mind. It was only his second start of his career and so we’re very happy with that.”
The step into Group company proved no obstacle for the colt, who was making just his second career start after opening his account in a 6f maiden at York last month. Inner City Blues now looks set for an autumn campaign at the highest level, with a Gr.1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes entry among his options. Bred by Attlehill Ltd T/A Ridge Manor Stud and purchased from Yeomanstown Stud for €900,000 at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale by Godolphin, he is the second foal out of the winning juvenile Dancin Inthestreet, becoming her second winner from as many runners. She is a half-sister to the Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Dr Zempf (Dark Angel) and is out of the Gr.3 winner Souvenir Delondres (Siyouni). The further family includes the Gr.2 US winner Distinct Habit (Distinctive Pro)
