By Sean Cronin
David and Yvonne Blunt's G2 Lancashire Oaks victrix Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}–Alpine Dream {Ire}), by Dream Ahead) finished off the board in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix de Royallieu, but bounced back in brave fashion and made all for a career best in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot.
The 22-1 chance was swiftly into stride from an outer gate and led at a solid clip throughout. Coming under pressure turning for home, she refused to yield under a Sam James drive in the straight and maintained an unrelenting tempo to keep the closing pack at bay. The homebred bay hit the line with a neck advantage from 'TDN Rising Star' Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), with the same margin back to Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.
“This is a really great day and I can't quite believe it,” said winning jockey Sam James. “I've never even ridden here before on Champions Day and I am delighted to have a winner. It's a bit surreal and I'd just like to thank the owners and [trainer] Karl [Burke]. It didn't go right the last time in France, but Poptronic has obviously shown loads of ability. She beat Sea Silk Road, who won the Group 1 over there, at Haydock in a Group 2. She's not the easiest and she's a little bit on her toes, but Karl does a great job with her and so does Kelly [Burke], who rides her out every day. Poptronic is a good mover and you'd think that softer ground wouldn't help, but all she does is gallop. She's tough and I didn't try to fight her today. She jumped really well and I didn't want to be in front, but she settled well and I was able to get a breather into her when I needed to. I knew turning in we'd be there or thereabouts by the way she quickened up from the three [-furlong pole]. She was very tough and game.”
Owner-breeder David Blunt added, “This is once in a lifetime for us, to be honest. We were against the big battalions today and we came up trumps, which is unbelievable. Poptronic is as tough as old rope. She had been a bit unfortunate in a couple of her previous races, I didn't think she deserved to be the outsider that she was and she's proved us all right in that regard. To have a runner in a Group 1, never mind the breeder of a winner of a Group 1, is amazing.”
Rossa Ryan, rider of runner-up Bluestocking, commented, “That was a massive run and I would have loved to have seen what would have happened if it was on the outer track. She will be a better filly next year.” Ralph Beckett continued, “She ran her race and we are delighted with her, but we were second best.”
Pedigree Notes
Poptronic, who becomes her sire's eighth Group 1 winner, is the first of four foals produced by a winning half-sister to this year's Listed Premio Mario & Vittorio Crespi runner-up Royal Grey (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who has a yearling filly by New Bay (GB) and a weanling filly by Zoustar (Aus) to come. The March-foaled bay's G2 Lowther S.-winning second dam Infamous Angel (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is the leading performer out of a half-sister to Listed Stonehenge S. victor Sgt Pepper (Ire) (Fasliyev). Her third dam Evangeline (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is a granddaughter of G2 Premio Federico Tesio victrix Libertine (Ire) (Hello Gorgeous).
Top performance from POPTRONIC in the QIPCO British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes at #Ascot, holding on from the head of affairs to beat BLUESTOCKING and JACKIE OH 🏆 well done to Sam James, @karl_burke and David & Yvonne Blunt 🥇 pic.twitter.com/OUxAk5BS96
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) October 21, 2023
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES S.-G1, £531,250, Ascot, 10-21, 3yo/up, f, 11f 133yT, 2:28.29, sf.
1–POPTRONIC (GB), 133, f, 4, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Alpine Dream (Ire), by Dream Ahead
2nd Dam: Infamous Angel (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
3rd Dam: Evangeline (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-David & Yvonne Blunt (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Sam James. £301,272. Lifetime Record: 13-5-2-2, $565,802. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bluestocking (GB), 127, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Emulous (GB), by Dansili (GB). O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £114,219.
3–Jackie Oh (Ire), 127, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Jacqueline Quest (Ire), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). O-Triermore Stud, Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor; B-C O P Hanbury (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,163.
Margins: NK, NK, 3/4. Odds: 22.00, 6.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Above The Curve, Free Wind (Ire), Red Riding Hood (Ire), Time Lock (GB), Running Lion (GB), Rue Boissonade (Fr), Term Of Endearment (GB), Sea Of Roses (GB), Sweet Memories (Ire), Stay Alert (GB), One For Bobby (Ire).
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