Azure Blue camp eyeing York return for comeback spin

By Sports Desk April 22, 2024

Azure Blue has the defence of her 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes title pencilled in on the calendar as Michael Dods prepares his star speedster for her impending return to action.

The five-year-old appeared to be on a real upward curve in the sprint division around this time last year and followed up a Newmarket Listed win over Heredia on her reappearance by claiming the scalp of the ill-fated Highfield Princess in the York Group Two 12 months ago.

That Knavesmire victory signalled her intentions to compete at the highest level but although she got a first taste of Group One action when finishing sixth in last summer’s July Cup, niggling injuries kept her on the sidelines for the rest of the 2023 campaign.

She is now working towards a return to the track, with her trainer setting his sights on again tackling some of the season’s most prestigious sprinting events.

However, the first port of call is a return to York on May 15, with Darlington-based Dods pleased with how her preparations are going.

“The plan is to go straight to York and we’re on track for that and we’re happy with her,” said Dods. “She’s working nicely and she looks great at the moment.

“The plan is to be in all of those top sprints this year and we’re happy with her, and she’s working nicely. We’re just making steady progress until we get her on the track.

“Hopefully that will be at York, that’s the plan.”

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    "His preparation will be done throughout the entire month of November heading into the race. He has an outstanding chance, and I expect big things from him," Brown said.

    Olympic Kremlin is set to arrive in Jamaica at the end of October, following a journey that will take him from Guyana to Miami before reaching the island. This move allows for a full month of local preparation before the big race.

    Christopher Wills, VP Operations at Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), operators of Caymanas Park, welcomed the news.

    "We're excited to have Olympic Kremlin joining the Mouttet Mile field. His participation further solidifies the race's status as a truly international event. The inclusion of such high-calibre horses from around the Caribbean and beyond is exactly what we envisioned when creating this prestigious race. We look forward to hosting Olympic Kremlin and his connections, and we're excited to see how he performs against our top local talent," he said.

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