Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh

Today´s Phoenix Stakes at 16.00 CET at the Curragh is the first Group One 2yo race of the season, and although there are only 6 runners, has attracted some high class performers. Michael Bell´s Art Connoisseur (Jamie Spencer) is unbeaten after 3 stars and showed tremendous speed to win the Coventry at Royal Ascot. Aidan O´Brien has won this race on numerous occasions and the stable selected Master Craftsman (Johnny Murtagh) is also unbeaten and must be strongly considered, as is also the case with David Wachman´s Bushranger (Wayne Lordan), who has won both his Irish starts and was 2nd in a huge field at Royal Ascot. There are also two listed races on this high class card. 7 of the 8 runners in the 2yo race over 5 furlongs at 15.00 are fillies, and Connie Mac (Andrew Oliver/ Declan McDonagh) may confirm Royal Ascot form with Nubar Lady (Tommy Stack/ Wayne Lordan). Silver Shoon (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) has been a bit unlucky so far, but with the stable now in top form, she looks a big danger. The fillies race over 6 furlongs at 17.10 has 13 runners and looks wide open. Dimenticata (Kevin Prendergast/ Chris Hayes) came back to form when winning a similar race a week ago, but must concede weight to Akua´Ba (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) and Age of Chivalry (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane) among others.