Red-hot Group 1 action in store at the Curragh this afternoon This afternoon’s highly anticipated Keeneland Phoenix Stakes is not only a superb renewal of the Curragh Group 1 event but also the most significant juvenile race so far in Europe this season. Bradsell heads the market for the six-furlong test and it is little wonder why as the form of his win in the Coventry Stakes could hardly have worked out better with the second, third and fourth in that Royal Ascot race all scoring next time at Group 2 level. The runner-up Persian Force is held in high regard by Richard Hannon and proved the point by landing the July Stakes, while fourth-placed Blackbeard has since won the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. Both renew rivalry here. Blackbeard’s trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this race an amazing 16 times but has suffered something of a drought in recent years with his last success coming via Sioux Nation in 2017. The Ballydoyle trainer is also represented by Little Big Bear who followed up victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot with a very impressive win here last month in the Anglesey Stakes. The sextet is completed by Railway Stakes hero Shartash and Apache Outlaw, who was third in that Group 2 event over this course and distance on Irish Derby day. Conditions at the Curragh look perfect with Clerk of the Course Brendan Sheridan reporting this morning, “We had a dry, warm day yesterday and with selective watering the ground is now good. “The forecast for today is for a dry, warm day and it’s beautiful here at the moment. “The stalls are in the centre for all sprints and we are racing on the stands’ side. “We are in a very good place and we are all good to go.” The chief supporting race on what should be a very informative eight-race card beginning at 1.30pm is the Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes. This Group 3 event is also over six furlongs and two-time winner Gustavus Weston faces stiff competition from UK raiders Go Bears Go and Dubawi Legend, while Castle Star and Power Under Me will also have their supporters. A ‘Curragh Bundle’ ticket for €25 offers great value this afternoon giving you general admission plus a race card, a BBQ burger and a €10 bet with the on-course bookmakers. Book online at curragh.ie
