6th August 2021
9 two year olds to line up in Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes this Sunday
Go Bears Go, Castle Star, Ebro River and Dr Zempf amongst the runners
9 of Europe’s best two year olds will line up in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, taking place this Sunday at the Curragh.
They include the David Loughnane trained Go Bears Go, who recently landed the GAIN Railway Stakes for owner Amo Racing and Peter Waney and he will renew rivalry with Castle Star who finished second and Dr Zempf who finished fourth.
The Hugo Palmer trained Ebro River, recent 4th in both the July Stakes and the Richmond Stakes is also among the contenders, while trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won the race 16 times, will run The Entertainer and Prettiest. Arges trained by John Murphy, the Jim Bolger trained Strapped and Twilight Jet trained by Michael O’Callaghan also feature in the Group 1 contest.
The William Haggas trained Light Refrain, who carries the colours of Queen Elizabeth, is one of two British trained runners in the Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint, with the Richard Fahey trained Ventura Rebel also featuring in the 10-horse line up. The home trained challenge for the Group 3 contest is led by Romantic Proposal, Gustavus Weston, The Highway Rat and A Case of You.
11 fillies will face the starter in the Loder IEBF Race including Concert Hall, while 14 will run in the competitive DMG Media Maiden, which is the first of four races that are part of the DMG Media Challenge. There are 17 runners in the TRI Equestrian Handicap, 20 in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Handicap, 13 in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden and 16 in the Irish Stallion Farms two year old Maiden which is the first race of the high quality programme at 1.25pm
Ground
Good, good to yielding in places following 20mm of rain since yesterday
Forecast
Unsettled with heavy rain over coming days
Track - stand side track
Stalls in centre for all sprints
Television Coverage
ITV - live coverage of Keeneland Phoenix Stakes
Racing TV: all 8 races
