16:00 Curragh (IRE) 09 Aug 2026
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes
Group 1 | Class 1 | 2YO only
Winner €240,000 - 8 ran
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway under 2f out, led 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final 150 yards
mid-division, 4th and pushed along 2f out, ridden and edged left to go 2nd 150 yards, kept on well
led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final 150 yards
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along 2f out, ridden and dropped to 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden under 2f out and 6th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway and soon pushed along, ridden and dropped towards rear 1 1/2f out, no extra
always towards rear, pushed along and no impression under 2f out, soon ridden and no extra
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €11.27 (7, 3) |
| Tricast | €73.53 (7, 3, 8) |
| Win | €2.25 (7) |
| Place | €1.10 (7), €1.80 (3), €2.20 (8) |
| Exacta | €10.80 (7, 3) |
| Trifecta | €55.10 (7, 3, 8) |
Expert Analysis
A weaker Phoenix Stakes than can be the case, just two of the eight runners winning last time and no English representative, but it still produced an impressive winner in Sun Goddess who took her form up a notch. The pace was strong with Carry The Flag acting as a pacemaker, and Ryan Moore was aware of what was coming, keeping his mount out the back in the early stages, the first three all coming from the rear of the field.
SUN GODDESS had been workmanlike in her last two runs, an odds-on defeat at Royal Ascot and win in the Airlie Stud off a quick turnaround, but took her form up a notch here, impressing with how she cut through the field from halfway, hitting the front soon enough and finding more late. She was faster than some of main rivals here, but should stay seven furlongs, and gives her yard another strong option in this division.
FOLSOM BLUES was an imperfect fit for this race, more of a staying type, but acquitted himself well over a trip short of his best. He made good headway from rear but lacked the speed of the winner, though this should set him up well for later targets over further.
VELOZEE was making a quick return after running at Ascot late last month, and impressed with how she travelled through the race, making smooth headway from rear before flattening out late. This trip is the limit of her stamina.
CARRY THE FLAG acted as pacemaker and did well to finish fourth in the circumstances.
TRIBECA failed to back up his good run in the Railway Stakes, form that did not work out in this race. He tracked the pacemaker but failed to pick up.
THE SCALLIONATOR shaped similarly to last time, looking in need of a stiffer test.
CELERON was strong in the market to follow up his Railway Stakes victory but was one of the first beaten and was found to be lame in his right hind afterwards. The form of his last win did not work out here.
KING OF CLOUGHAN wasn’t up to this.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 16:00 Curragh 9th Aug 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 5 | Power Blue | 4 | 2 | 9 5 | - | 13253 | 21 days | A Murray (35 miles) | David Egan | 10/ 1 | 1:09.28 |
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 5 | Babouche | 3 | 2 | 9 2 | - | 11 | 20 days | G M Lyons (32 miles) | Colin Keane | 5/ 2 | 1:09.33 |
| 2023 | Good | 7 | Bucanero Fuerte | 1 | 2 | 9 5 | - | 131 | 41 days | A Murray (35 miles) | Kevin Stott | 9/ 4 | 1:12.53 |
| 2022 | Good | 5 | Little Big Bear | 2 | 2 | 9 5 | - | 2111 | 21 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Ryan Moore | 13/ 8 | 1:11.27 |
| 2021 | Yielding | 8 | Ebro River | 5 | 2 | 9 5 | - | 611544 | 10 days | H Palmer | Shane Foley | 12/ 1 | 1:12.16 |
| 2020 | Good - Yielding | 10 | Lucky Vega | 9 | 2 | 9 5 | - | 12 | 22 days | Mrs J Harrington (3 miles) | Shane Foley | 4/ 1 | 1:13.35 |
| 2019 | Soft | 5 | Siskin | 2 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 111 | 41 days | G M Lyons (32 miles) | Colin Keane | 10/ 11 | 1:17.14 |
| 2018 | Good | 5 | Advertise | 1 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 121 | 31 days | M Meade | Frankie Dettori | 11/ 10 | 1:12.29 |
| 2017 | Good to Firm | 8 | Sioux Nation | 3 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 32161 | 52 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Ryan Moore | 2/ 1 | 1:11.72 |
| 2016 | Good to Firm | 5 | Caravaggio | 3 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 111 | 54 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 1/ 8 | 1:11.79 |
| 2015 | Good - Yielding | 7 | Air Force Blue | 4 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 12 | 54 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Joseph O'Brien | 9/ 4 | 1:11.88 |
| 2014 | Soft | 6 | Dick Whittington | 5 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 22131 | 22 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Joseph O'Brien | 6/ 1 | 1:14.55 |
| 2013 | Good | 5 | Sudirman | 4 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 5311 | 43 days | D Wachman (73 miles) | Wayne Lordan | 4/ 1 | 1:09.35 |
| 2012 | Yielding | 6 | Pedro The Great | 2 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 515 | 43 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 10/ 1 | 1:19.05 |
| 2011 | Good | 9 | La Collina | 9 | 2 | 8 12 | - | 12 | 24 days | K Prendergast (3 miles) | Declan McDonogh | 33/ 1 | 1:13.30 |
| 2010 | Yielding | 7 | Zoffany | 2 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11611 | 17 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 3/ 1 | 1:11.29 |
| 2009 | Heavy | 8 | Alfred Nobel | 3 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 2311 | 28 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 5/ 4 | 1:20.32 |
| 2008 | Good to Firm | 5 | Mastercraftsman | 1 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11 | 28 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 4/ 1 | 1:13.30 |
| 2007 | Soft | 7 | Saoirse Abu | 1 | 2 | 8 12 | - | 31253 | 25 days | J S Bolger (31 miles) | Kevin Manning | 25/ 1 | 1:18.89 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 7 | Holy Roman Emperor | 4 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 101 | 42 days | A P O'Brien (73 miles) | Kieren Fallon | 13/ 8 | 1:11.06 |
