This Sunday, August 7th at The Curragh
This season’s leading juvenile, Caravaggio, is among the 10 entries for Sunday’s Group 1 €250,000 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be bidding to win the race for a third year in a row and an incredible 15th time in total and he is responsible for six of the remaining entries as he has also included Royal Ascot winner Churchill alongside, Courage Under Fire, Edgar Allan Poe, Intelligence Cross and Roly Poly.
The Ger Lyons-trained Medicine Jack was a very impressive winner of the GAIN Railway Stakes at the Curragh on his most recent start back in June and he is also in the line up for the €250,000 contest.
Caravaggio looks set to be O’Brien’s main contender in Sunday’s feature race and the trainer said; “Caravaggio has been in good form since Royal Ascot and everyone has been happy with him. He has just been continuing his routine but it has gone well and we are pleased.”
Last month’s Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes winner, Gordon Lord Byron, is the star attraction in the Group 3 Qatar Racing Club Phoenix Sprint Stakes on the same card.
Tom Hogan’s heads the 14 entries remaining in the six-furlong contest that also includes the Aidan O’Brien-trained Air Force Blue and Eddie Lynam’s Fort Del Oro and Moviesta.
The ground at the Curragh is currently ‘good’ all over with a mixed forecast over the coming days.
Kevin O’Malley, the US Ambassador to Ireland, will be the guest of honour to celebrate the running of the Phoenix Stakes by the Kentucky based Keeneland Association. Ambassador O’Malley will join the representatives from Keeneland to present the trophies to the winning owner, trainer and jockey following the running of the race.
Keeneland and The Curragh have undertaken various initiatives to enhance the Phoenix Stakes afternoon and there will be free family admission again this year with children encouraged to bring their parents to the races for free! The Keeneland Kids Zone will feature a variety of exciting activities for children plus live music throughout the day to add to a great atmosphere.
