No European-trained horse had completed the King’s Stand/ Diamond Jubilee Stakes double since Diadem back in 1920, that is until Saturday, 22 June, when Shamardal’s star sprinter Blue Point recorded his second G1 sprint victory of the week at Royal Ascot.
Breaking smartly from the stalls, Blue Point was settled further back today than he had been in the King’s Stand and jockey James Doyle was still motionless entering the final two furlongs. Once asked for his effort, Blue Point cruised to the front and held off a sustained challenge from Dream Of Dreams, battling brilliantly to prevail by a head.
Blue Point has now won four G1 contests, winning the King’s Stand last year as well as earlier this week, plus he rounded off an unbeaten Dubai World Cup Carnival with victory in the Al Quoz Sprint.
He was also a very smart juvenile, breaking his maiden at the first time of asking, before winning his next race by an astounding 11 lengths. Blue Point went on to win the G2 Gimcrack before finding only The Last Lion too good in the G1 Middle Park before making the frame in the Dewhurst.
He returned at three with victory in the G3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot and revisited the Berkshire track that June to take third in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. He rounded off his three-year-old campaign with a win in the G3 Bengough Stakes, also at Ascot.
Blue Point was bred by Oak Lodge Stud and is out of Scarlett Rose, whose own sire Royal Applause won this very race back in 1997 (when run as the Cork and Orrery). A 200,000 gns yearling, Blue Point is a half-brother to juvenile Group winner Formosina.
Shamardal has enjoyed a superb year so far, also siring G1 French 1,000 Guineas heroine Castle Lady, plus unbeaten two-year-old Pinatubo, who smashed the juvenile course record in the Chesham Stakes earlier this afternoon.
