Bluestocking wins Arc de Triomphe after only being entered this week

Bluestocking, a four-year-old filly who was given a supplementary entry for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this week at a cost of €120k (£100k), landed Europe’s biggest race under a flawless ride by Rossa Ryan here on Sunday.

Ryan was always in prime position aboard Bluestocking, saving ground a few lengths behind the pace as Los Angeles, the Irish Derby winner, led the field through the first mile.

He then sent Bluestocking into the lead with around a quarter of a mile to run and maintained a strong gallop to the line as Aventure, the runner-up behind Bluestocking in last month’s Prix Vermeille, came through to take second, with Los Angeles staying on to finish third.

The win was a first in the race for both Ryan and Bluestocking’s trainer, Ralph Beckett, who saddled Westover to finish second behind Ace Impact 12 months ago.

A jubilant Ryan told Equidia soon after passing the line: “I know everyone overlooked her, but on form she had been at the top table and done it all. She just proved she’s something else.

“I can’t really believe it, this filly has been something else to my career. My family are here, they all came over and it’s very surreal.”

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “It’s absolutely amazing, the job Ralph has done with this filly all year has been unreal. It’s unbelievable, what a filly.

“That’s Juddmonte’s seventh winner in the race, I think that makes them the winning-most owner of all time so that’s a special record.

“It’s a brilliant day. She had a perfect trip the whole way round, Rossa had it all planned in his head. He was going to be handy, he had a lovely trip the whole way and at the top of the straight I thought it was going to take a good one to beat her.”

Full report to follow …