Rossa Ryan eyes Paris glory after Bluestocking gets green light to boost Britain's Arc challenge

Bluestocking will lead Britain's challenge in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.20) and her big-race jockey Rossa Ryan believes she can justify the decision to supplement her for the Longchamp showpiece.

Owners Juddmonte stumped up the €120,000 supplementary fee for the Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old on Wednesday, significantly boosting the British challenge with Sunway, representing David Menuisier, the only other contender in the line-up.

Bluestocking has enjoyed a successful year, headlined by Group 1 victories in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance last month. 

Ryan was on board on both occasions and said: "She's going there with a live chance. Hopefully we get a good draw and it allows us to ride the race we want to ride. We'll need a bit of luck, but she's definitely worthy of being there and is in there with a good chance too.

"It's brilliant how versatile she is, as it makes my job a lot easier. It was a strong running of the Vermeille – probably stronger than in recent years. You look at what the past winners like Treve and Tarnawa went on to do afterwards, so it's well within her grasp to be competitive."

Bluestocking is a 10-1 shot with Paddy Power behind 4-1 joint-favourites Sosie and Look De Vega, with Irish Derby hero Los Angeles next at 5-1 and Japanese star Shin Emperor at 13-2.

Rossa Ryan: cannot wait to get on board Bluestocking in Sunday's ArcCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

She will be a second ride in the race for Ryan, who finished tenth on outsider Mojo Star behind Torquator Tasso in 2021. He added: "It'll be brilliant to ride in it again, especially for the owners. Letting me have my partnership with her is a big confidence-booster in itself. Hopefully we're not done just yet."

Bluestocking's two defeats this season have come in open company, a second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and fourth behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International, but the owners have decided to let her take her chance against the colts again in a race which fillies or mares have won nine times since the turn of the century. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained Alpinista was the last to do so two years ago.

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said: "It was a straightforward decision. The owners have been very keen all season to give it a whirl and as long as she was in good form it was a no-brainer. She's a two-time Group 1 winner, we know she likes the track and a little bit of ease in the ground.

"It's very exciting. It's a great race and it's lovely to be involved with a live chance. Ralph was happy with her on Wednesday morning when she cantered and all of her tests checked out. Rossa knows her inside out and is a top-class rider. He's one of the elite jockeys in Britain at the moment and they've had a great relationship, so hopefully long may it continue."

Bluestocking will bid to give the Juddmonte team a seventh Arc success, but a first since founder Khalid Abdullah died in 2021. They struck with fellow star mare Enable in successive runnings in 2017 and 2018. Workforce, Rail Link, Dancing Brave and Rainbow Quest are their other winners.

Bluestocking: two defeats this year have come in open companyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

She will be bidding to avenge Juddmonte's and Beckett's defeats in the last two years with Westover, who finished sixth in 2022 before finding only Ace Impact too good a year ago.

"We've been there the last two years with Ralph, so hopefully it'll be third time lucky," Mahon added. "She owes us nothing. Even when she was second in the King George or fourth in the Juddmonte International, they were huge runs. Hopefully she'll give her running as she has done every time, and if she does she'll be in the mix."

The only horse to come out of the Arc on Wednesday was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Opera Singer. Her defection leaves a possible 18 runners, with the final field being revealed on Thursday morning, followed by the draw.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.20 Longchamp, Sunday)
Paddy Power: 4 Look De Vega, Sosie, 5 Los Angeles, 13-2 Shin Emperor, 10 Al Riffa, Bluestocking, Delius, 14 Auguste Rodin, 16 Aventure, 20 Mqse De Sevigne, 25 Continuous, Fantastic Moon, 33 Zarakem, 40 Sunway, 50 Sevenna's Knight, 66 Luxembourg, Haya Zark, Survie

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