Racecards
15:50 Curragh (IRE)
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €249,999 added
- Winner: €145,000
- 2nd: €47,500
- 3rd: €22,500
- 4th: €7,500
- Form 12
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
held up in 5th, travelling well on stands' side 2f out, ridden and good headway to lead over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong
- Form 131211
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey W Buick
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, disputed lead briefly 1 1/2f out, soon headed, no extra in 3rd final furlong
- Form 811
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey C O'Donoghue
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 5th 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 212
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S Foley
chased leader in 2nd, led 2f out, soon ridden, joined 1 1/2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
- Form 315371
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 2121
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
held up in 6th, ridden and progress on far side 2f out, headway into 2nd 1f out, kept on in 2nd final furlong
- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey P J Smullen
dwelt, held up in last, ridden 2f out, no impression final furlong
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Aidan O'Brien generally sends a top juvenile for this but confuses the situation with three entries. Washington DC came good in the Windsor Castle Stakes and has speed to burn while Painted Cliffs beat what looked a very good field in the Group 2 Railway Stakes here in June. Air Force Blue went to Ascot for the Coventry Stakes and ran a fine race to finish runner-up to BURATINO. Mark Johnston's colt was an impressive winner and there's no logical reason why the form should be reversed. He can take this as Rockaway Valley is held by Air Force Blue and Painted Cliffs and the filly Most Beautiful has yet to race against colts as good as this.
Formwatch
Air Force Blue (USA) 7-2fav (9-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Buratino (9-1) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Buratino (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Dwelt, held up in mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, tracked leader on bit over 1f out, led 1f out, quickened clear inside final furlong, kept on strongly, won at Ascot 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Air Force Blue (9-1) by 2l, 17 ran.
Painted Cliffs (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Soon tracked leader, on terms over 2f out, pushed along to soon lead, asserted from over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun beating Rockaway Valley (9-3) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Rockaway Valley (IRE) 11-8fav (9-3) 3rd early, soon switched off rail and raced in 4th, pushed along after halfway, switched right over 1f out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Painted Cliffs (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Sixth Sense (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Made all, ridden over 1f out, veered left inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ascot 7f lst stks (1) sft in Jul beating Platitude (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Washington Dc (IRE) 5-1fav (9-3) Raced far side, chased leaders, led approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, just held on, won at Ascot 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jun beating Areen (9-3) by hd, 27 ran.
Zebstar (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden to dispute lead from over 1f out, asserted final strides, won at Newmarket 5f mdn stks (4) gf in May beating Dheban (9-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Most Beautiful 11-8fav (9-0) Raced 2nd, improved travelling well to dispute lead 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gd in Jun beating Only Mine (9-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.