The first of the 13 European Group 1 races for two-year-olds, the Phoenix Stakes at ☐ smallest field of all the Group the Curragh often attracts the 1 races held during the year, only three times since 2000 has there been 10 runners or more and for the second time in three years, there were only five runners.
Whistlejacket, who made all the running to win the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket on his previous start, was the 8/13 favourite to give his trainer Aidan O'Brien an 18th winner in the race. Babouche, winner of the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes on her previous start, was a 5/2 chance and the only danger to Whistlejacket in the market with the other three runners at 14/1 or 16/1.
Whistlejacket was pestered for the lead by one of the 16/1 shots Arizona Blaze, a useful performer who had won in Group 3 company in May and finished third in Group 2 company on his two previous starts. Babouche raced in touch with the two pacesetters with Shadow Army and Rudi's Apple held up.
Whistlejacket took a long time to shake of the attention of Arizona Blaze, only doing so with less than two furlongs to go. Babouche, who had travelled well for Colin Keane, was asked to improve at the two-furlong marker and she picked up in good style, taking the lead off Whistlejacket just over a furlong from the finish.
She stayed on well, holding Whistlejacket inside the last 100 yards to win by a length and a half to remain unbeaten. Arizona Blaze was a further length and three quarters away in third, with the other two well held.
Babouche provided her trainer Ger Lyons with a first Group 1 success since 2020, and she was the first filly to win the Phoenix Stakes since 2011. She is likely to have one more run in 2024, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes on September 28, a race her trainer won in 2011, where is currently the 3/1 second favourite behind Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother who is the 5/2 favourite.
This story is from the September 2024 edition of Racing Ahead.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2024 edition of Racing Ahead.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JANGO GOES SAILING BAIE
John Anthony keeps pace with the quickies in the race against the clock
HOPING FOR CLAR SKIES
Andy Newton crunches the numbers ahead of the Clarence House Chase
ROCKING THE COTS
Andy Newton reviews the betting and trends ahead of the Cotswold Chase
ODDS-ON TO TOP THEIR CLASS
Racing to School charity on the march to reach its 250,000th participant
FIBRE'S FIRST FOR FITNESS
Flbre-Beet from British Horse Feeds is the ideal support for horses suffering or recovering from gastric ulcers
COMMAND PAD
Ben Hastie talks to jockey Paddy Brennan about his brilliant career in the saddle and what lies ahead
TAKE HIGH FIVE
Helen Edwards was in Tokyo to see Do Deuce and Yutaka Take nick thriller
JUMPBACK TO FUTURE
reports on jumps return at Windsor after almost two decades
LUMP ON STORMIN' GORMAN
Graham Buddry looks back on twomile ace with no fear of handicapper
PAROL HEADS UP BEN'S TEN
Ben Morgan casts a shrewd eye over his key punting hopes for the month