Europe: Blue Bolt looks unbeatable in Sun Chariot

How good does Blue Bolt look in the Sun Chariot Stakes? Two days from Saturday’s Group 1 fixture at Newmarket, the fabulous 4-year-old filly was available at miniscule 1-2 with British bookmakers.

That doesn’t seem overblown. The question regarding the Sun Chariot, a straight mile restricted to older fillies and mares, seems more about the manner in which Blue Bolt will win, not if she will.

A good 3-year-old while second in this race a year ago, Blue Bolt has turned into a tigress for her owner-breeder, Juddmonte, and trainer Andrew Balding at 4. She’s 5 for 5 this year, and has captured three straight Group 1s after landing the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot. By Blue Point, Blue Bolt has the physicality of a strong colt, possesses a powerful turn of foot, and has won on straight courses and turns, in England, Ireland, and France.

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If all goes as planned Saturday, and Blue Bolt beats her six rivals – which she will barring terrible luck or a serious step back – it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup. And the interesting thing therein was hearing Juddmonte’s retained rider, Colin Keane, Blue Bolt’s jockey in her last nine starts, suggest that the filly might be more likely for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf over 1 3/16 miles than the BC Mile, where she’d face males – including defending champ Notable Speech – for the first time.

Keane, of course, said the final decision would lie with Balding and Juddmonte. Regardless of which race connections target, Blue Bolt, if she takes care of business Saturday in England, will come to America as one of the stars of the Breeders’ Cup.

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