Michael Dods: “She’s working nicely and she looks great at the moment.”
Azure Blue is getting ready to make her comeback to action, and Michael Dods has scheduled the defence of her 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes title.
Around this time last year, the five-year-old seemed to be really improving in the sprint division. She had defeated Heredia in the York Group Two a year earlier, and then she had triumphed over the ill-fated Highfield Princess in a Newmarket Listed race.
Her intent to compete at the highest level was indicated by her victory in Knavesmire, but despite her first taste of Group One action—finishing sixth in the July Cup last summer—nagging injuries kept her out of the game for the rest of the 2023 campaign.
Her trainer is now focusing on helping her return to the track, to compete in some of the most prestigious sprinting events of the year.
The first stop will be a return to York on May 15, and Darlington-based Dods is happy with the progress of her preparations.
“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.”