Phoenix Stakes 2024: A Preview of Europe’s First Group 1 Juvenile Race
August 10, 2024
As the first of fifteen Group 1 races for juveniles in Europe, the Phoenix Stakes will provide plenty of interest. A competitive field of six, comprising four colts and two fillies, is set to battle it out on good ground at the Curragh.
Leading the market is Whistlejacket a Ballydoyle colt with an impressive pedigree, he’s a full brother to Little Big Bear who won this in 2022. At Royal Ascot in June he failed to justify favourtism in the Norfolk over 5f when only finishing fourth, the top tag coming after a Listed win over 5f here on soft ground in May when accounting for Adrian Murray’s Arizona Blaze when winning comfortably by 3¾L. Last time out, he showed his ability by winning the G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes over 6f at Newmarket in good style.
Arizona Blaze, reversed the Curragh form In the Norfolk narrowly edging out Whistlejacket at Ascot finishing ahead of him in third, a short head separating the pair. Ten days later, stepped up in class contesting the G2 Railway Stakes over 6f here, he finished third to Henri Matisse, beaten 3¾L. Earlier in May he’d won the G3 Marble Hill at this venue beating Camille Pissarro a head over 6f.
That form brings in Ger Lyons filly, Babouche, the second favourite. She took the G3 Anglesey Stakes over an extended 6f by a ½L from Camille Pissarro having won a Maiden at Cork in June. Aidan O’Brien also runs the other filly in the race, Heavens Gate who earned her corn last Monday at Naas when taking the valuable Ballyhane Stakes.
Joseph O’Brien asks his colt Rudi’s Apple to significantly step up in class. He took a Nursery Handicap here off top weight over this trip and was an easy winner.
There is one cross-channel raider. Richard Fahey sends over Shadow Army. Wathnam Racing stepped in to purchase him after he won a Novice Stakes first time out at York. He finished mid-division in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot following up with a good performance at Chantilly in the G2 Prix Papin when after a slow start was an eye-cathing second to Arabie, a good horse of Karl Burke’s who’d previously won a G3.
This year’s Phoenix Stakes promises to be an exciting contest.
Whistlejacket aims to follow in his brother’s footsteps and his progress at Newmarket gives him every chance. Arizona Blaze possibly went a little backward in the Railway at the Curragh, however it might be a deeper race than the July Stakes Whistlejacket contested. English raider, Shadow Army’s finish in the Papin after a slow start brings him into it while Rudi’s Apple Nursery performance although dominant, he faces a massive rise in class. Heavens Gate could surprise if she continues her upward trajectory however the one who comes in here with the strongest credentials to challenge Whistlejacket is Babouche. She can continue to build on her impressive Maiden and Anglesey wins, and given a 3lb weight pull in the weights, she’s a serious contender, she’ll love the ground. and she has proven her ability over the distance.
Recommendation
Babouche 5/2 win
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