Top Contenders for Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh This Weekend There is Group 1 action at the Curragh this weekend with the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes the star attraction on a quality card from Flat racing Headquarters. The big race is due off at 16:35 on Saturday afternoon over six furlongs and there were 10 contenders left in the mix at the entry stage on Tuesday. The valuable Neville Homes Handicap and the FBD Hotels and Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes are amongst the supporting races. Ballydoyle dominates Phoenix Stakes contenders Aidan O'Brien is typically dominant at the entry stage for the Phoenix Stakes as the Ballydoyle handler bids for a record-extending 18th win in the race. O'Brien last won the Group 1 sprint with Little Big Bear in 2022 and he accounts for six of the 10 left standing. Unbeaten Royal Ascot winner Gstaad is the potential star name. The Starspangledbanner colt won the Coventry Stakes in June on his second start and has some big targets in the second half of the season. The filly Beautify, meanwhile, won the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh over course and distance in June at the Irish Derby Festival, with last week's impressive Glorious Goodwood scorer Lady Iman behind in second spot. This race could be a stepping stone towards the Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f at this track during Irish Champions Weekend next month. First Approach, Neolithic, Puerto Rico and True Love complete the Ballydoyle sextet. The last-named beat Puerto Rico by five lengths in an impressive display to win the Railway Stakes over course and distance in July. Andab may lead the opposition Joseph O'Brien could spearhead the opposition to his father, with two of the four remaining contenders under his care. Andab was fourth in the Coventry in June and finished sixth in last week's Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, where he perhaps didn't last home over the extra furlong. This race comes quickly for him, and his trainer also has the option of running Green Sense. The Starman filly’s form ties in with Lady Iman from Naas in May and she put behind a disappointing effort in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot when she won the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly last time out. She is bred for sprinting and carries the famous silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Loughnane and Murray complete the cast Adrian Murray won this race with Bucanero Fuerte in the Amo Racing silks in 2023, and he could saddle another contender for owner Kia Joorabchian now in the form of Power Blue. The Space Blues filly has contested some good sprints this summer and ran well in defeat behind the likes of Gstaad at Royal Ascot and True Love over this course and distance. More will be needed if some of these possible rivals are confirmed but she hasn't shown her full hand just yet. Rounding things off could be the sole UK-based contender in Dave Loughnane's Do Bronxs. The son of Oasis Dream is also owned by Amo Racing and won an Ayr maiden on debut in June before coming up short in Listed company at Newbury over this trip in July. He'll have to take a sizeable step forward if the €210,000 top prize at the Curragh is to head back to Britain.
