Heffernan excited by Power ride Sunday's Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh promises to be one of the hottest juvenile races of the season and Seamie Heffernan can hardly wait to be reunited with Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten colt Power. O'Brien has a quite astonishing record in the six-furlong Group One having saddled 11 of the last 13 winners, with Ballydoyle stars such as Johannesburg, George Washington and Holy Roman Emperor all on the roll of honour. Power has done everything right in his three starts to date, winning a maiden over this course and distance and striking in Listed company under Heffernan before taking the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot for Ryan Moore. With the latter sidelined by injury, Heffernan is back in the plate this weekend and he is confident his mount is still progressing. "I'm delighted to have the ride back on him. He's one of our smartest two-year-olds and he's a Group Two winner," said Heffernan. "It seems like he has been improving the whole time, so hopefully that proves to be the case on Sunday. "He's a tough horse. He has a big heart and he responds when you really need him. The ground shouldn't be a problem as he's handled it well before. "It looks a good race as you would expect and that is what racing is about. There are a lot of strong, mature two-year-olds in there and hopefully the luck is with us. "The strong ones should be competing and shouldn't be afraid of each other, so we'll see what happens. "This race is always a good trial and whatever wins it normally goes on and wins a second Group One and runs well in the Classics next year." Frederick Engels is a major contender for David Brown having won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before beating Roman Soldier - just behind Power in the Coventry - in Newmarket's July Stakes. Brown said: "He's arrived in Ireland and travelled well. He's absolutely fine and we're happy with him. "I think he's come on a bit since Newmarket and he deserves a crack at a race like this, so on we go. "I think they are calling the ground good, which should be fine as it's similar to what we've been running on. "You'd think we'd have a chance on the running with Roman Soldier at Newmarket and you'd think Power has us to beat, so we'll see. "Johnny Murtagh always said he would ride him if we went for this race so hopefully he runs a big race. It would be fantastic to win a Group One."
