Blue Point heads for Champions Day after Bengough Stakes success

Colt looks set for Sprint Stakes run

The Godolphin-owned Blue Point has seen his odds cut into 12/1 for victory in the Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot later this month.

William Buick returned from a vertebrae injury sustained aboard the late Permian in August to take Saturday’s ride in the Bengough Stakes. And the pair made all as the Charlie Appleby trained three-year-old won by half a length from Projection.

It was a classy victory for the colt, who will now have his eyes set on Harry Angel and Caravaggio in the British Champions Sprint Stakes.

However, he will have some work to do to defy the stats. No horse has ever completed a Bengough Stakes and Sprint Stakes double in the same season.

Blue Point’s credentials

Blue Point does have claims to land a maiden Group 1 success. The main piece of form to take from his season was victory over Harry Angel in the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot in May. Now, that may well have been over four months ago. But it goes to show that the son of Sharmadel has it in his locker.

Harry Angel is not unbeatable. He’s lost twice this term, both times on a good to firm surface. If the weather holds up on the day then Blue Point has an excellent chance.

Form-wise, the Irish-bred raider has not been disgraced this season. He may have lost by 8l in the Haydock Sprint Cup, but that was in completely unsuitable conditions. He has two black-type wins to his name in 2017.

And in the Commonwealth Cup, he was in touch all the way before coming up just short at the finish. There’s still progression left in this horse. And with regular jockey William Buick likely to be on board, the Coral News Team think he has an excellent chance of reversing Commonwealth Cup placings at 12/1.

The opponents

Harry Angel is the clear favourite to make it a hat-trick at Group 1 level. Clive Cox’s charge has won the July Cup Stakes and the Haydock Sprint Cup this season. He’s short enough at 5/4 to end the season in style.

Then comes Caravaggio at 7/2. The hugely impressive Aidan O’Brien trained runner looked imperious after winning six races on the spin following his debut in April of last year. And after coming through his first ever dicey patch of form with a decisive win in the Flying Five Stakes last time out, the son of Scat Daddy should be there or thereabouts for this one.

Quiet Reflection and The Tin Man are 6/1 apiece, while Aclaim at 8/1 and Limato and Tasleet at 10s round-off Blue Point’s other main contenders.