G1 Keeneland Phoenix S.

The Curragh's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Saturday looked an open affair beforehand, but Amo Racing Limited and Giselle De Aguiar's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-- Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) left no doubt as to who ruled the roost as he made virtually all for an impressive success. Having needed the judge to edge out 'TDN Rising Star' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. last month, the Adrian Murray-trained €165,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate could be called the clear-cut winner some...

The Curragh stages Europe's first Group 1 contest for the current crop of 2-year-olds on Saturday and it is fair to say that a Keeneland Phoenix S. without the anticipated presence of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up for grabs. While Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent opted to send the G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' to Deauville for the Prix Morny, the way is clear for another 'TDN Rising Star' son of that sire to step into his place. Unquestionable (Fr) has the obstacle of yet...

Juddmonte and Keeneland have renewed their sponsorships of the Curragh's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Phoenix S., respectively. The feature race of the two-day Juddmonte Irish Oaks Weekend on Saturday, July 22, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks has been won three times by horses carrying the Juddmonte colours with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (2017), Bolas (GB) (Unfuwain) (1994) and Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave) in 1993. Currently there are 87 first entries for the €500,000 summer Classic, including Juddmonte's debut winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Juddmonte started as the sponsor of...

Not even favourite for Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., it is no wild statement that TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) could be the best juvenile Aidan O'Brien has had though his hands after a display of power to scintillate the Curragh faithful. Always in his comfort zone on the front under Ryan Moore as chief rival Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) blew the start, the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S. winner was shaken up by Ryan Moore to put...

There is the usual feast of racing across Britain, Ireland and France on Saturday, but The Curragh is where it's at as the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. provides the first coming together of the elite among Europe's precocious juveniles. It could boil down to a battle of the TDN Rising Stars Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Hollie Doyle and Ryan Moore in no mood to allow their mount's considerable reputations to slide. Bradsell is in a bit deeper than he was in...

Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh has attracted a high-class sextet including a duo from Ballydoyle bidding to provide Aidan O'Brien with a 17th renewal. Ryan Moore is booked for the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Seamie Heffernan due to partner the stable's May 2 Listed First Flier S., May 21 G3 Marble Hill S. and July 17 G2 Prix Robert Papin scorer Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). Victorious Racing's...

ASCOT, UK--Racing at Ascot this Saturday may focus on the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., but a top-class card gets underway in style with the running of the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S., a race now in its fifth year of sponsorship by the American sales company. Shannon Arvin, who was appointed Keeneland's eighth president and chief executive officer last year, is the first woman to hold that position, and she arrived in the UK earlier in the week to meet some of the company's clients in...

The Sept. 25 G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket remains the main goal for Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Hugo Palmer confirmed on Friday. Racing in the Al Shaqab silks, the colt will bid to add to his Group 1 haul after taking the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 8. Said Palmer, who trained Ebro River's sire Galileo Gold to wins in the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S., "I've left him in the [Sept. 18 G2] Mill Reef...

Group 2 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is a likely supplement for the Aug. 8 G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh according to trainer Richard Fahey. Third at first asking at Newcastle near the end of May, the bay graduated at Hamilton on June 9 and clawed out a narrow win in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal ascot on June 17. However, the Phoenix is not the only race being looked at by his connections, with the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. also under consideration...

Saturday's G2 Railway S. hero Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) will be pointed to the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 8. Owned by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing Limited and P. Waney, Go Bears Go broke his maiden at Ascot on May 8 and was a close second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. "We were obviously thrilled with the horse, especially after going so close at Royal Ascot," said trainer David Loughnane. "We've got six weeks until the Phoenix...

The appeal lodged by connections of Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for her demotion from second to third for interference in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh was dismissed by the Appeals Body, The Irish Field reported on Tuesday. Aloha Star's jockey and trainer, Chris Hayes and Fozzy Stack, respectively, gave evidence, as did The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire})'s pilot Oisin Orr. The Lir Jet was promoted to second after there was contact from Aloha Star during the running of the race. It was determined...

Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus})'s connections have appealed their filly's demotion from second to third place in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. on Sunday. Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) won the race, and The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) was promoted to second. A winner of the G2 Airlie Stud S. in July, the bay sports a record of two wins in five starts. She is entered in the Tattersalls Online August Sale which opens on Wednesday. "We've lodged an appeal, so we'll leave it at...