Beckford Faces Moment Of Truth

With 15 successes in The Curragh's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. since 1998, Aidan O'Brien has a remarkable stranglehold on the six-furlong feature but it could be that Sunday's edition is bound for the unlikely stable of Gordon Elliott courtesy of the unbeaten Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Newtown Anner Stud Farm's acquisition followed up his taking debut win here on May 13 with success in the July 1 G2 Railway S. also over this course and distance, propelling the jumps handler Elliott into an unfamiliar summer spotlight. “He's in great form. This is a step up again, but he's doing everything we've asked of him,” he said. “I think he's improved. He's getting stronger. He needs to improve, so we'll see what happens.”

Of the Ballydoyle quartet, Ryan Moore has sided with the June 22 G2 Norfolk S. winner Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy), but the remainder all have major claims. They are the filly Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War), who captured the July 15 G3 Anglesey S. over 63 yards further here; U S Navy Flag (War Front) who was second in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 13; and 'TDN Rising Star' Declarationofpeace (War Front), who bids to rebound from a disappointing effort when last of 22 in the five-furlong Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot on June 20. Previously, he had beaten the useful Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) by six lengths in a Dundalk maiden over that trip on May 10 and O'Brien is keeping the faith. “Declarationofpeace hasn't run since Ascot, as we were a little bit disappointed with him there,” he explained. “He had a little bit of a hold-up about a month before and that might have affected him, so he might leave that run behind and hopefully the ground might be nice and quick.”

Fourth in the Norfolk, Frozen Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has since finished runner-up to fellow Brit Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin over 5 1/2 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on July 23 and it is significant that trainer Tom Dascombe is happy to pitch him in here. “He ran very well in France and we've been happy with him since,” he commented. “It looks a very tough race, but it's a Group 1, so you expect that. I think six furlongs on fast ground should be ideal and he's improved with every run, so he has to have some sort of chance.”