The Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot takes centre stage in Britain this Saturday as Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, the Rest of the World, and the Ladies battle for team glory. There is no shortage of excitement at the Berkshire venue, but with all six contests being handicap affairs, the highest quality action comes elsewhere.
Haydock plays host to the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes and Group 3 Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, whilst Newmarket lays on the Jenningsbet Sweet Solera Stakes, but the pick of the Group level action comes at the Curragh with the 2024 edition of the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.
Talented Two-Year-Olds Go To Post
First run in 1902 and named in honour of its original Phoenix Park home, this 6f contest has been held at its current venue since 2002. Offering €350,000 in total prize money and open to colts and fillies, the event invariably assists in establishing the juvenile pecking order.
The Phoenix Stakes is always a race worth watching with an eye to the future, with Danehill Dancer, Johannesburg, George Washington, Mastercraftsman, and Caravaggio all featuring on the roll of honour.
O’Brien Out on His Own Among Trainers
It will hardly come as a surprise to learn that Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in Phoenix Stakes history. After all, he does hold the world record for Group 1 wins. However, no race has contributed more to his mighty top-level tally than the Phoenix Stakes, with the master of Ballydoyle landing the prize on a remarkable 17 occasions.
Bearing that overall record in mind, O’Brien is in the midst of a down period in the race, with only one win in the past six editions. Martyn Meade, Ger Lyons, Jessica Harrington, Hugo Palmer, and Adrian Murray have all upset the Phoenix specialist in recent years.
Last successful with Little Big Bear in 2022, it would take a brave punter to bet against O’Brien in 2024. At the four-day stage, 11 runners remain in the race – five of whom hail from the O’Brien yard. Will any of the following be the horse who hands Aidan Phoenix Stakes win number 18?
- Whistlejacket – One of the shortest-priced favourites at this year’s Royal Meeting, this son of No Nay Never couldn’t quite get the job done when only fourth in the Norfolk Stakes. However, the step up to this 6f trip saw the colt in a better light next time at Newmarket, as he powered clear to land the Group 2 July Stakes. This is his first crack at a Group 1, but he’s the top-rated runner in the line-up and the one they all have to beat.
- Camille Pissarro – Not all O’Brien runners are forward enough to score on debut, but that wasn’t the case with this Wootton Basset colt, who landed a Navan Maiden in smooth style. That was a positive start, but three subsequent outings have yielded three defeats. 11th of 22 in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, he will need to improve to take this one.
- Heavens Gate – Churchill filly, who is yet to finish outside the first three in five starts. Picking up wins in Maiden and Median Auction company, she was run down close home in both the Albany Stakes and Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and will need to pull out more now going against the boys.
- Treasure Isle – The second of O’Brien’s No Nay Never colts looks up against it. Disappointing when nearer last than first in the Windsor Castle Stakes, he improved on that to finish fourth in a Group 3 at this track in July but needs to prove he sees out this 6f distance.
- Alfred Tennyson – By Starspangledbanner and out of a Kodiac mare, Alfred Tennyson should be pretty quick. However, he is zero from four heading into this and takes a huge step up in class from Maiden company. That said, his latest run was his best yet, and there may be more to come.
Best of the Rest
In Whistlejacket, O’Brien would appear to hold the ace in the pack. However, his other four runners are unlikely to strike too much fear into the opposition, many of whom arrive with solid claims of their own.
2019 winner Ger Lyons sends his unbeaten Kodiac colt, Babouche into battle. Getting on top late to deny Camille Pissarro in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes last time, owners Juddmonte will hope he can confirm those placings, at least.
Adrian Murray bids to back up the 2023 success of Bucanero Fuerte with the speedy Arizona Blaze. A solid third in the Norfolk Stakes, he arrives as a course and distance winner, having denied Camille Pissarro by a head in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes
A dual winner of the race as a rider, Joseph O’Brien bids for a first Phoenix success as a trainer with Rudi’s Pet. An easy course and distance winner last time – albeit in handicap company – his previous second to Black Forza looks solid, with that horse going on to land the Richmond Stakes.
Mark Johnston was the last British trainer to plunder this pot when claiming the 1998 edition with Princely Heir. The Richard Fahey-trained Shadow Army is the sole British runner among the current entries. Making only his fourth appearance here, he finished an unlucky second in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin last time out and goes in the Wathnan Racing silks.