August 10 / 16.35 Curragh

16.35

Good

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

  • Prize money: £179565.22
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1st
5 (3)
Babouche

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 11 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very impressive on Cork debut (6f, good to yielding) and for one so inexperienced she did well to beat the boys in the Group 3 Anglesey over a bit further here three weeks ago (good); the runner-up was disappointing at Royal Ascot but had previously pushed Arizona Blaze close in the Marble Hill here; this filly has been learning on the job and there's more to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

(4)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

15:25 Curragh

Babouche

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

Made it 3-3 in Group 1 Phoenix Stakes here 12 months ago; pulled hard when fourth in soft-ground Cheveley Park; won Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas (6f, good) on second start this season; flopped in the Commonwealth Cup when much too free; could bounce back.

9/2

14

(18)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Babouche

8st 13lb

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

Made it 3-3 in Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh (6f, good to firm) last August then pulled hard when fourth in soft-ground Cheveley Park; back to winning ways in Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas (6f, good) last month, and impressed even though runner-up Whistlejacket was below par; one to consider.

5/1

2

(5)

18th May 2025

Good

0m 5f 205y

16:33 Naas

Babouche

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

Won her first three starts, including the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, beating Whistlejacket on the latter occasion; winning run came to an end on soft ground behind Lake Victoria at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park; failed to cope with a 5lb penalty at Cork on return; should be close to peak fitness now.

13/8

5/6

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2141 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
500,000gns yearling; hammered Arizona Blaze here in May (5f, soft) and found everything happening too quickly when beaten at odds-on in a fast-ground Norfolk; looked sure to be well served by the step up to 6f in the July Stakes at Newmarket (good to soft) and duly delivered with authority; the third Aomori City gave that form a boost in winning a Group 2 at Goodwood; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

8

(7)

14th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Whistlejacket

9st 5lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Won the July Stakes and Prix Morny last season; 6f Listed winner on reappearance; no luck in running on his way to sixth-place finish in the Commonwealth Cup; slowly away and never looked like making an impression in the July Cup; blinkered for the first time.

10/1

12th

15

(2)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Busy 2yo campaign featured wins in the July Stakes (at this meeting) and Prix Morny; collared stablemate Ides Of March in Listed grade on reappearance and met traffic issues on his way to sixth-place finish in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot most recently; the forecast ground perhaps isn't ideal (0-5 on good/firmer) but otherwise he has possibilities for top trainer who has landed this prize five times, mostly with 3yos.

5/1

12

(11)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

3-8 in 2yo campaign, highlight his Group 1 Prix Morny win at Deauville (6f, good to soft) in August; ran well on fast ground at this meeting; returned with Listed win at Navan (6f, soft) and, while he was no match for Babouche when second in Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas (6f, good) latest, Ryan Moore reported that the colt banged his head on the gates; could give good account.

16/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 12133 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Couldn't cope with Whistlejacket in a Listed race here in May but on faster ground he was narrowly ahead of that rival in the Norfolk (again 5f); has won a Group 3 over 6f but he's a speedy colt who seemed to get outstayed in the stronger Group 2 Railway Stakes here last time; it could be a similar tale against today's opposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Arizona Blaze

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

Very experienced for his age; winner of six of his 16 starts and placed eight times; strong form in winning with something to spare from Mgheera in a C&D Group 2 in July; faded in the final quarter-mile of the Nunthorpe; could bounce back and helps to give the stable a strong hand, with Bucanero Fuerte also in the mix.

6/1

11th

9

(9)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 York

Arizona Blaze

9st 13lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

Often leads; has had plenty of racing for his tender years but he's tough and reliable and his first 5f run of the year saw him achieve strong form in winning with something to spare from Mgheera in a Group 2 at the Curragh (good; acts well on firm) in July; still has potential over 5f.

11/2

5

(3)

19th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

15:05 Curragh

Arizona Blaze

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

Front running 3yo is a two-time Group 3 winner at 5.5f-6f; narrowly denied in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November on his last start over 5f (firm); touched off in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month (6f, gd-fm); right in the mix on official ratings and a bold bid looks likely.

100/30

14/1

Form: 102

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Narrow debut winner at York before failing to fire in the Windsor Castle; left all that form behind when sent over 6f and finishing second in the Group 2 Robert Papin at Chantilly (6f, good to soft), a race he might have won had it panned out differently; likely to need more here but that's feasible; the cheekpieces are new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(6)

26th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 1

13:30 Doncaster

Shadow Army

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Useful efforts when second in Group 2 Robert Papin at Chantilly (6f, good to soft) and fourth in Group 1 Phoenix at the Curragh (6f, good to firm) in the summer; gelded since a poor run in Listed race at Ripon in a first-time visor (discarded) at the end of August; bang there if back to his best but there have to be doubts after Ripon and James Doyle prefers Diego Ventura.

14/1

7th

4

(4)

26th Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:12 Ripon

Shadow Army

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Fahey

Made a winning start in 5f York novice then advanced his form when runner-up in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly and fourth in Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh (cheekpieces on) on his last two outings; visor goes on now and he holds good form claims.

2/1

Form: 3621 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Beaten in two maidens on either side of finishing sixth in the Windsor Castle; however, he appeared to take a marked step forward in dominating a C&D nursery on good ground three weeks ago; that earned him a crack at something better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(3)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 7f 30y

16:40 Leopardstown

Rudis Apple

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

in touch with leaders, headway on far side of group when switched right over 1f out, kept on and went third towards finish, no match for first two

8/1

3rd

4

(3)

31st Aug 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

14:50 Curragh

Rudis Apple

9st 5lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

in touch with leaders, outpaced over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went third towards finish

4/1

Non-runners

Heavens Gate

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.40
Straight Forecast €4.31
Trifecta €13.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whistlejacket

TOPSPEED:

Shadow Army

POSTDATA:

Heavens Gate

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Whistlejacket

The Irish Sun:

Whistlejacket