Racecards
15:35 Curragh (IRE)
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Firm (Good in Places)
- Surface: Turf
- €250,001 added
- Winner: €142,499
- 2nd: €47,499
- 3rd: €22,500
- 4th: €10,000
- Form 123066
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey D O'Brien
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 111
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
tracked leaders, soon 4th, closed from over 2f out, led over 1 1/2f out, pushed along to assert from over 1f out, soon clear, stayed on well, easily
- Form 723
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey M C Hussey
slightly awkward leaving stalls, soon led, pushed along over 2f out, headed over 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
- Form 31073
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey P J Smullen
tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression in 4th
- Form 3611
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 108
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, pushed along 2f out, soon briefly tight for room between horses and one pace
Verdict
Aidan O'Brien has won ten of the last 14 of these and it will be a shock if CARAVAGGIO doesn't keep up the sequence. Unbeaten in three starts beginning on Polytrack at Dundalk then a Listed contest over 5f here, when Ambiguity was behind, he was impressive when landing the Coventry Stakes on soft ground and he's in every major juvenile event between now and the end of the campaign. Medicine Jack has improved with every run and looked very smart when landing the Group 2 Railway Stakes here in June and Ger Lyons' colt is a worthy adversary for the Ballydoyle hotpot. Grand Coalition was well behind the selection at Ascot but did get a bit closer to Medicine Jack on this track while Courage Under Fire hasn't shown enough to merit consideration.
Formwatch
Ambiguity (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Led and disputed, ridden from 2f out and soon headed, dropped to 5th and no extra from 1f out, last of 6, 7l behind Peace Envoy (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jul.
Caravaggio (USA) 13-8fav (9-1) Raced centre, in touch, headway and switched right entering final 2f, taken towards far side group, led entering final furlong, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Ascot 6f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Jun beating Mehmas (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
Courage Under Fire (USA) 7-4 (9-5) Led, joined before straight, narrowly headed inside final furlong, no extra and one pace close home, dropped to 3rd on line, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Right Honourable (9-5) at Galway 7f mdn Yielding in Jul.
Grand Coalition (IRE) 5-2 (9-7) Led or disputed lead, headed under 2f out, ridden over 1f out and soon every chance, no impression final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Noble Dancer (8-11) at Down Royal 5f gd in Jul.
Medicine Jack 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and progress to challenge over 1f out, under pressure and led inside final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks Yielding in Jun beating Peace Envoy (9-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.