Phoenix stakes

Bucanero 'The Best I've Ridden' – Aguiar Sweet On Phoenix Stakes Favourite

Widely considered one of the shrewdest judges of equine talent on an international scale, Robson Aguiar has described Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB) as the best horse he has ever ridden and predicted the colt would be very hard to beat in Saturday's G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh. It was Aguiar who first spotted the potential in the Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte as a yearling last year and went to €165,000 to secure the colt from Etreham at the August Sale at Arqana.  Victory in the first juvenile...

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Bradsell Backed As Blackbeard Scratched From Phoenix Stakes

Aidan O'Brien will rely solely on Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in his bid to win a record-extending 17th G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh this afternoon after stablemate Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) was ruled out of the Saturday showpiece due to to allergies. Last successful with Sioux Nation in 2017, O'Brien has won the Phoenix S. with George Washington, Holy Roman Emperor and Mastercraftsman in the past, and Little Big Bear is a 7-4 chance to follow in the hoofprints of those illustrious former Ballydoyle-trained stars....

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Son of Midshipman 'Reserves' Spot in Sprint Starting Gate

Reformed claimer Special Reserve pressed, pounced and held on late to earn a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Friday. Scooped up for $40,000 from Randy Morse and Doyle Williams out of an upset optional claiming tally at Oaklawn in February--good for what at the time was by far his best career Beyer Speed Figure of 92--the late-blooming 5-year-old won right back at that level (not in for the tag) in March before finishing second in the GIII Commonwealth S. over an additional furlong...

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Earthlight Put To The Test

Godolphin's unbeaten Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) faces his first major test of 2020 in a strong renewal of Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. Facing the older sprinters for the first time, last year's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner also meets Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) who was a neck behind him when runner-up in the Middle Park at Newmarket in September. There was no sign that his delayed start to the season had meant a diminishing of his ability when...

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Ventura Tormenta Added To Phoenix

Middleham Park Racing's G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was one of four supplementary entries on Tuesday to Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. He was joined, as expected, by G3 Molecomb S. winner Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) as well as the G2 Airlie Stud S. winner Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner Giorgio Vasari (Ire) (Air Force Blue). Ventura Tormenta will be re-opposing The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who he beat by a head in...

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Phoenix Aim For Aloha Star

Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the surprise winner of last weekend's G2 Airlie Stud S., could take on the boys next time in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 9, according to trainer Fozzy Stack. Aloha Star had taken three tries to break her maiden, which she achieved at Bellewstown on July 2, and while her 33-1 score in the Airlie Stud was unexpected by most, Stack admitted he wasn't entirely surprised. "It was great to see her go and do that, because she's a filly we...

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