Pedro takes incident packed Phoenix Stakes The Aidan O'Brien second string, Pedro The Great sprang a surprise as he took an incident packed renewal of the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes under Seamie Heffernan. The first major drama occurred in the parade ring before the race as Lottie Dod unshipped and injured her rider Johnny Murtagh (stood down for rest of the day and gone to hospital for face x-rays). Pat Smullen came in as a late replacement aboard that filly and the start of the race was delayed as a result. Then during the race the 6/4 second favourite Cristoforo Colombo clipped heels and fell a furlong from home. Thankfully both he and his rider Joseph O’Brien walked away from the incident. The Seamie Heffernan riding winner settled in fifth early on before being switched wide two furlongs out. He was ridden to challenge a furlong and a half from home and he hit the front with over a furlong left to race before keeping on well to score by two and three parts of a length at 10/1. The Kevin Manning ridden Leitir Mor finished second at 12/1 under Kevin Manning (replaced Ronan Whelan) and Jim Bolger while Lottie Dod was third for Charles O’Brien at 25/1. Probably finished a disappointing fourth under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman after being sent off the well backed 5/4 favourite (was 3/1 overnight with Paddy Powers). Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He won his maiden very impressively. He was a bit fresh the last day and we decided to take our time with him today and he settled well. "He won’t mind stepping up to seven furlongs and its quite possible he will come back here for the National Stakes." O’Brien went on to talk about Cristoforo Colombo and he said: “He seems to have a deep enough cut on the inside of a leg and hopefully he will be ok." He also talked about St Nicholas Abbey and Mars saying: "St Nicholas Abbey could run next in the Juddmonte International Stakes while Mars may run in the Futurity Stakes here." Wexford Opera (change in going), Parliament Square (stone bruise) and Scrapper Blackwell (change in going) were all taken out of the six furlong contest earlier in the day. Both Paddy Powers and Boylesports quote the winner at 33/1 for next year's Newmarket 2,000 Guineas. (On-course reporting by Alan Magee)
