It was Aguiar who first spotted the potential in the Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte as a yearling last year and went to €165,000 to secure the colt from Etreham at the August Sale at Arqana. 

Victory in the first juvenile Group 1 race of the year in Europe would guarantee Bucanero Fuerte's share price to sky-rocket well beyond that initial outlay, which would represent a huge result for the Brazilian native given his wife Giselle owns the colt in partnership with Amo Racing. 

“Bucanero is in top form,” the 41-year-old said on Thursday. “I'd say he has improved a good bit since his last run. I have ridden a lot of good horses in the past but this horse is really special. He is the best horse I have ridden. I rode very good horses when I worked in Ballydoyle and for Tally-Ho Stud as well. 

“I rode Camelot (GB), Excelebration (Ire), Perfect Power (Ire), Go Bears Go (Ire), Ardad (Ire), Persian Force (Ire)–a lot of good horses–but this horse is really special. He's a very quiet horse, has a good mind, is a brilliant mover–he has everything.”

Bucanero Fuerte beats Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes | Racingfotos.com

Bucanero Fuerte has already accounted for his main market rival on Saturday, Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), when the pair met in the G2 Railway S. at the Curragh last month. He is well on his way to fulfilling his stallion potential, being a classy brother to the Prix de l'Abbaye scorer Wooded (Ire), and Aguiar explained that the blooding of such types has become an important aspect of the Amo Racing model.  

He said, “We work very hard for this. We are working hard to make a stallion and have four good stallion prospects this year. There is New York Thunder (Nyquist), one of the best three-year-olds in America, King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Valiant Force and Bucanero Fuerte. Also, we still have Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), who will retire at the end of this year. Hopefully he can win a Group 1 or Group 2 beforehand. 

“For the past few years, we have been working hard to try and find these horses. It's not easy to make a stallion and, until we get there, we won't be happy. We are on the right track but we are not there yet. Hopefully Bucanero can win on Saturday.”

The brother to Wooded, whose first yearlings will go under the hammer at the August Sale at Arqana next week, was a well-credentialed stallion prospect at the yearling sales. However, it wasn't Bucanero Fuerte's page that lured Aguiar in.

“He caught my eye straight away when I saw him at the sales. When they pulled him out of the stable, I said to my wife, 'I am going to buy this horse.' I didn't even look at his pedigree because, when I go to the sales, I watch all of the horses. I look at them walking and, if they interest me, I look at the pedigree. If I am not interested, I don't bother looking.”

Aguiar added, “I didn't know he was a brother to Wooded when I saw him first. He could have been related to nothing and I would have bought him still. But when I did see his pedigree, I thought I had no chance of buying him. I was lucky to be able to buy him.”

Buying the good models over a page is what Aguiar built his business on. When operating on a budget, he was able to turn cheaper yearling purchases into six-figure breezers. 

The bankroll behind the operation may be on a completely different scale now, helped by the backing of Amo boss Kia Joorabchian, but the principals and the work ethic remains the same.

“Look, I still buy colts without much of a pedigree for myself and I breeze them. I like to buy a racey-looking horse to breeze. But for Amo, I try to buy stallion prospects with a pedigree because Kia does not want to win a race. He wants Group winners and stallion prospects.”

Royal Ascot-winning juvenile Valiant Force, who is also trained in County Westmeath by Murray and being aimed at the G1 Prix Morny, is another stallion prospect that was found for Amo by Aguiar. 

Alongside Tally-Ho Stud's Roger O'Callaghan, Aguiar snapped up the son of Malibu Moon for $100,000 on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Ben McElroy at the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. 

Like Bucanero Fuerte, Aguiar's wife Giselle retains a share of Valiant Force, as does O'Callaghan's wife Rachael, in partnership with Amo Racing. 

Valiant Force caused one of the biggest shocks in recent memory at Royal Ascot when winning the G2 Norfolk S. at odds of 150-1 and Aguiar is now charting a path back to America along with Murray for the Breeders' Cup with the colt. 

Recalling how he came to acquire Valiant Force, he said, “Ben McElroy told me to have a look at him. He bought him as a foal as part of a syndicate and they put him in Book 2 of the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland where he got a little bit lost. He is by Malibu Moon, who is not the most fashionable stallion but, when Ben showed me the horse, I really liked him. I got Roger to have a look and we bought him to breeze. We decided to race him and sold a little bit of him to Kia before Ascot.

“He's in good form and I'd say he has improved since Ascot as well. He's gotten bigger and stronger. For me, he will be a proper dirt horse but I'm going to run him once more on turf in the Prix Morny in France. My plan is to go to the Breeders' Cup for the dirt race because he works very good on it.”

Joorabchian has earned himself a reputation as being a hard-nosed businessman who is not afraid to move his horses around. It is a results-based business at the end of the day and nobody is more aware of this than Aguiar, who has a very clear vision about what success looks like for the Amo Racing chief.

 Aguiar: “I want to be the best – I don't want to be just another person in the game.” | Tattersalls 

“We are not there yet,” he admitted. “For me, I want to get a few Group 1s over the line and produce a good stallion. We have spent a lot of money and I will be proud when we start to bring more money back into the business [through a good stallion].”

In order to fulfill his ambitions in racing, Aguiar shared that he would be bidding to emulate the achievements of the O'Callaghans at Tally-Ho Stud, for whom he has a long and fruitful association working alongside. 

He explained, “I joined Tally-Ho when I left Ballydoyle and they help me and I help them. We still do a lot of business together and I am very good friends with Roger, Henry and Tony O'Callaghan. We are friends and we also respect each other. Any favour they ask me to do, I do it for them. They would also do anything for me. We are like family.

“They work very hard. Roger is a good person to buy and sell a horse and everybody trusts Tony. They will always help people who need to get a mare covered and will always try and do a deal for you even if you don't have the money there and then. 

“Kodiac (GB) brought them to the next level and now Mehmas (Ire) is doing the same. Everything that retires there, they do a great job for the stallion and they reinvest every year in new mares and facilities.”

He added, “Everything that I make, I put it back into building stables and buying my own mares. I do a lot of pre-training for Amo and I still have a few racehorses myself who I couldn't sell. 

“My business is starting to grow and hopefully I can keep on improving every year just like Tally-Ho has. I want to be competitive at the top level. I don't spend my money on anything else. I always invest, invest, invest. I want to be the best–I don't want to be just another person in the game.”

For those reasons, victory on Saturday would mean the world to Aguiar and he has full confidence in Bucanero Fuerte delivering the goods. 

“If everything goes right in the race, I think he should win. You can think this but you can never be sure. I bought the horse, I broke him and I ride him every day so it would give me a lot of pleasure if he was to win his Group 1 on Saturday. I sold a Group 1 winner already, Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in America, but I think this horse can bring me to the next level of the business.”

The post Bucanero ‘The Best I’ve Ridden’ – Aguiar Sweet On Phoenix Stakes Favourite appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Last successful with Sioux Nation in 2017, O'Brien has won the Phoenix S. with George Washington, Holy Roman Emperor and Mastercraftsman in the past, and Little Big Bear is a 7-4 chance to follow in the hoofprints of those illustrious former Ballydoyle-trained stars.

However, the market is headed by impressive Coventry S. winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Hollie Doyle.

Unbeaten in both of his starts, Bradsell has not been seen since that memorable Royal Ascot triumph, but is rock-solid in the betting at odds of 6-5. 

The Richard Hannon-trained Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), winner of the G2 July S. at Newmarket last month and second to Bradsell in the Coventry, also features among the five still standing for today's mouthwatering Group 1. 

Johnny Murtagh's Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), successful over the course and distance in the G2 Railway S., and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) completes the field.

Doyle is confident that Bradsell can maintain his unbeaten record and is backing the colt to shine at the Curragh this afternoon. 

Speaking to the Racing Post, she said, “The form of the Coventry has worked out exceptionally well, so hopefully he can take another step in the right direction.”

Doyle added, “He's unbeaten and is lightly-raced compared to the opposition, but he's very straightforward and his work has been solid up until now.”

The post Bradsell Backed As Blackbeard Scratched From Phoenix Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Scooped up for $40,000 from Randy Morse and Doyle Williams out of an upset optional claiming tally at Oaklawn in February–good for what at the time was by far his best career Beyer Speed Figure of 92–the late-blooming 5-year-old won right back at that level (not in for the tag) in March before finishing second in the GIII Commonwealth S. over an additional furlong here Apr. 3. He made the grade in Pimlico's GIII Maryland Sprint Match Series S. May 15, bested Quick Tempo (Tapizar) and a next-out stakes winner in the Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows July 3 and had been off since finishing a close second in Saratoga's GI Alfred H. Vanderbilt H. four weeks after that.

Away on top, Special Reserve conceded the lead down the backside to freewheeling Quick Tempo through an opening quarter of :21.90. He took back over into a :44.69 half, opened up and then found the line just in time to hold off lightly raced Aloha West in the final strides.

“He broke really well, and it looked like [Sophie Doyle on Quick Tempo] came up right away, and he was fine with that,” said red-hot rider Joel Rosario. “He kind of settled a little bit there, nice and quiet, and then in the turn when the horse was backing up a little bit, he was just ready to go.”

When asked if he thought his charge could contend with Breeders' Cup-caliber sprinters, trainer Maker said, “I do believe that. I have a lot of faith in the horse. Joel did a fabulous job today I wasn't expecting to be on the lead today [out of the gate], but the horse was so quick.”

Saturday, Keeneland
STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX S.-GII, $250,000, Keeneland, 10-8, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.54, ft.
1–SPECIAL RESERVE, 120, g, 5, by Midshipman
                1st Dam: Love Spun, by Hard Spun
                2nd Dam: We Love Granny, by Home At Last
                3rd Dam: Granny Calling, by Blade
($60,000 Ylg '17 FTKJUL; $140,000 2yo '18 OBSMAR).
O-Paradise Farms Corp. and Staudacher, David; B-Russell L.
Reineman Stables Inc. (KY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Joel Rosario.
$150,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 22-8-2-7, $638,647. Werk Nick
Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Aloha West, 120, c, 4, Hard Spun–Island Bound, by
Speightstown. ($160,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Manfuso & Katharine Voss
(MD); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $50,000.
3–Mucho, 120, h, 5, Blame–Extent, by Pulpit. O-WSS Racing,
LLC and 4 G Racing, LLC; B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B.
Dilschneider (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $25,000.
'TDN Rising Star'
Margins: NK, 2, 3. Odds: 1.20, 1.70, 13.40.
Also Ran: Endorsed, Sir Alfred James, Just Might, Quick Tempo. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
A green :21 2/5 breezer at the 2018 OBS March sale, Special Reserve is one of 22 graded/group winners for his sire–seven of which have earned that achievement in the Northern Hemisphere. He is one of 13 graded/group winners out of mares by Hard Spun.

The winner's dam was well beaten in four career starts. She is a half to GSW/MGISP Original Spin (Distorted Humor) and MSW/GSP Humor at Last (Distorted Humor). Love Spun sold to Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm for $6,500 carrying a full brother to Special Reserve. She produced a Cowtown Cat colt Mar. 28 before being bred back to that Ohio-based stallion for 2022.

The post Son of Midshipman ‘Reserves’ Spot in Sprint Starting Gate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Scheduled as the eighth race on Friday's 10-race program with a 5:10 p.m. ET post time, the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race with the winner receiving a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Trained by Mike Maker, Special Reserve has compiled a 6-4-2-0 record in 2021 and enters Friday's race off a runner-up effort in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga on July 31. In his lone Keeneland start, Special Reserve was second in this spring's Commonwealth (G3).

Joel Rosario, who was aboard in the Vanderbilt, has the mount Friday out of post position six.

Looming as the main threat to Special Reserve is Griffon Farms and trainer Michelle Lovell's Just Might.

Winner of his past four starts, all coming in stakes, Just Might enters Friday's race off dirt victories at Colonial Downs and most recently at Churchill Downs. Colby Hernandez has the mount from post four.

The field for the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

1. Quick Tempo (Sophie Doyle, 118)
2. Mucho (Reylu Gutierrez, 120)
3. Endorsed (Julien Leparoux, 120)
4. Just Might (Hernandez, 120)
5. Aloha West (Jose Ortiz, 120)
6. Special Reserve (Rosario, 120)
7. Sir Alfred James (Corey Lanerie, 120)

The post Special Reserve Faces Off With Streaking Just Might In Friday’s Phoenix appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Biancone has been overseeing the 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky's daily activities at Keeneland this week while subbing for her father, Patrick Biancone, who had been fighting cancer for several months. Although he is cancer-free now, the elder Biancone is in a Covid-19 high-risk group and so opted not to travel from his South Florida base at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Andie Biancone, who serves as his assistant trainer and exercise rider, also has represented her father at the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby with Sole Volante.

“It's been a crazy year,” said the 23-year-old Biancone, who admits that her busy schedule has somewhat affected her grades for her online courses at the University of Florida.

She's able to escape all the craziness for a little while, at least, when she climbs aboard Diamond Oops, who enters the Sprint off back-to-back wins in the Phoenix at Keeneland and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

“Even without winning all those races, he's special to us. My dad always believed in him and has always been high on him. This past year with my dad getting sick, he's been my escape. I've been getting on him every day. It sounds super lame, but it's like therapy. He has such a big heart. It's so amazing being around him,” she said.

“I've been galloping him for about a year and a half. A couple of months ago, he literally dropped me and he stopped and waited for me to get back on him. He waited for me on the track and I got back on him,” she added. “He's so intelligent. His last breeze, I got emotional. I was, like 'What did I do to deserve such an amazing animal in my life?' ”

The versatile Diamond Oops, who was Grade I stakes-placed on turf and dirt last year, ran in the 2019 Dirt Mile, in which he encountered a troubled start and finished eighth at Santa Anita. He came right back to win the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream seven weeks later and stretched out to finish fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream. He rallied from 12th to win the 5 1/2-furlong Twin Spires Turf Sprint and stalked the pace before kicking in late to win the Phoenix.

“He has such a big heart and is so intelligent, he's like a person. He has a huge personality,” Biancone said. “He's the light in our lives, for my dad, for me.”

Biancone would like to see Diamond Oops get a similar trip in the Sprint as he got in the Phoenix.

“He's really versatile. You can cover him easily. He's a really good stalker. Hopefully, he gets a good break and come with that closing kick,” she said. “When he sees another horse in front of him, it's game on.”

Florent Geroux has the return mount aboard Diamond Oops, who is owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, Amy Dunne, D P Racing LLC and Patrick Biancone Racing LLC.

The post ‘The Light In Our Lives’: Andie Biancone Enjoying The Ride With Breeders’ Cup Hope Diamond Oops appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and trainer Patrick Biancone's Diamond Oops was scheduled to leave Keeneland this afternoon to return to the Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida, according to assistant trainer Andie Biancone.

“He's just a cool horse,” she said of the 5-year-old Diamond Oops, who became a millionaire with his Friday victory. “My dad was very proud of him yesterday and happy.”

The victory earned Diamond Oops a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). However, Diamond Oops also is accomplished on the grass, having won the TwinSpires Turf Sprint (G2) Presented by Sysco in his previous start.

“My dad will probably flip a coin,” Biancone said of making the decision whether Diamond Oops would be pre-entered in the Sprint or the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) also on Nov. 7.

“Most likely (Diamond Oops) would come back the week of the Breeders' Cup. He loves to travel. He is a lot more confident now, and he enjoys changes in distances and surfaces. Last year was like his 3-year-old year because he only had the one race in 2018.”

Johnny Evans and trainer Terry Eoff's Empire of Gold left Keeneland before 7 a.m. en route to Remington Park.

Dismissed at 51-1 as a 3-year-old making his graded stakes debut, Empire of Gold dueled with Grade 1 winner No Parole through fast fractions, opened a clear advantage in the stretch and was overhauled late by Diamond Oops.

“We knew he was good, but we didn't know just how good,” Eoff said of the result in which Empire of Gold finished in front of three Grade 1 winners. “He beat some pretty good horses.”

The only time Empire of Gold has not finished in the top three was when he was fifth in the Grand Prairie Derby at Lone Star going 1 1/16 miles in June.

“I just had to try him long once,” Eoff said. “His best lick is 5½ to 6½ furlongs.”

Eoff is planning to bring Empire of Gold back here for the $100,000 Perryville for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs as part of the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup undercard.

The post Diamond Oops’ Connections Will ‘Flip A Coin’ Between Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Turf Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The victory earned Diamond Oops an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month, also at Keeneland.

Grade 1 winner No Parole sped out of the starting gate to grab the early lead, while Remington Park invader Empire of Gold moved up to add pressure through early fractions of :22.24 and :44.73. Echo Town and Diamond Oops were just behind the frontrunners early, while veteran Whitmore and Ohio-bred millionaire Mo Don't No tracked in mid-pack.

Rounding the far turn, Empire of Gold grabbed the lead away from No Parole and opened up by several lengths. Diamond Oops took up the chase, but looked to have too much to do with three-sixteenths of a mile to run.

Instead, when Geroux gave the gelding his cue, Diamond Oops dug in gamely and drew even with his rival. Empire of Gold switched to the wrong lead late, trying to find more, but Diamond Oops pushed past to hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front. Empire of Gold had to settle for second, while Echo Town was game late to deny Whitmore for third. Absolutely Aiden was fifth.

Bred in Kentucky by Kin Hui Racing Stables, Diamond Oops is out of the stakes-winning Whywhywhy mare Patriotic Viva. He started showing up in a big way last year, winning the G3 Smile Sprint on dirt before running second in both the G1 Vanderbilt (dirt) and the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile. He was eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile before rebounding to win the G3 Mr. Prospector.

This year, Diamond Oops has not finished worse than fourth in four starts, and his overall record stands at 7-3-1 from 16 starts for earnings of over $1 million.

The post Versatile Diamond Oops Runs Down Longshot Empire Of Gold In Phoenix appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix is a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) to be run here Nov. 7. The race will go as the eighth on Friday's 10-race program that opens the 17-day Fall Meet, which runs through Oct. 24. First post is 1:05 p.m. ET with the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix slated for 5:05 p.m.

Trained by Moquett, Whitmore won the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix in 2017 and has been runner-up in the race the past two years. Whitmore has used this race as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint the past three years, a race in which he finished third in 2019 at Santa Anita and second in 2018 at Churchill Downs.

Seventh over a sloppy track in the Forego (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 in his most recent start, Whitmore will be ridden Friday by Joe Talamo and break from post position three.

Whitmore, who won the 2018 Forego, is one of three Grade 1 winners in the field.

L and N Racing's Echo Town won the Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga going 7 furlongs on Aug. 1 and most recently was fifth as the favorite in the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Steve Asmussen, who won the race last year with Engage, Echo Town will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and break from post position six.

Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin's No Parole won the Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont in June going 7 furlongs. Trained by Tom Amoss, who won the race in 2012 and 2013 with Sum of the Parts, No Parole will break from post position five and be ridden by Luis Saez.

The field for the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Shashashakemeup (Corey Lanerie, 118 pounds), Absolutely Aiden (Chris Landeros, 120), Whitmore (Talamo, 120), Diamond Oops (Florent Geroux, 122), No Parole (Saez, 122), Echo Town (Santana Jr., 122), Empire of Gold (Declan Carroll, 118), Copper Town (Julio Garcia, 120), Lexitonian (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Edgemont Road (Declan Cannon, 120), Mo Don't No (Gerardo Corrales, 120) and Midnight Sands (Joel Rosario, 120).

The post Veteran Whitmore To Make His Fourth Start In Friday’s Phoenix At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Also from Godolphin is ‘TDN Rising Star’ Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is on a roll over seven furlongs having annexed the G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp on June 25 and the G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood on July 28. He was only beaten a length when third in this 12 months ago and is probably an improved performer. “Space Blues has come out of the Lennox S. in good form. He ran well in this race last year and, with the way he has performed so far this year, we are heading back very confident that he can run a big race,” Charlie Appleby said. “Every time he has stepped up in grade this season, he has won more impressively, while he has performed well at Group 1 level on both his previous starts at Deauville. He ran very well in it last year and a repeat performance of that or what he has done this year is going to make him a live player.”

Golden Horde has stepped up this year, winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on June 19 before finishing third in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket on July 11. Trainer Clive Cox commented, “He is drawn 10 of 11, but I’m very happy with the horse. This is a very competitive Group 1, especially with Earthlight in there, who we have form with from last year. In the Morny he beat us quite convincingly, although our horse ran well, and we closed the gap by the end of the year in the Middle Park. I think an extra half a furlong will be no problem for us. I’m quite excited and looking forward to it. I think home territory might be a slight advantage, with the heat we have at the moment, but that said, apart from the journey it will be the same for all of us. He won well at Royal Ascot first time out and ran well in defeat in the July Cup. I’m still full of hope and admiration for our horse.”

Another Royal Ascot winner in the line-up is Haras d’Etreham and Cambridge Stud’s Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), who took the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. on June 20. Only fifth in the July Cup, he has to bounce back. Jockey Kevin Stott said, “I think he’ll like the track, as he didn’t come down the hill particularly well at Newmarket and the extra half a furlong will be right up his street. I’m really excited. He’s a very laid-back horse who takes everything in his stride.” Aidan O’Brien’s duo are the July 12 G1 Prix Jean Prat runner-up Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never), who drops back in trip after his second in the June 6 G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, third in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot on June 20 and fifth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29.

Phoenix Headlines Curragh Card

The Curragh features a fascinating clash of the precocious juveniles in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., with Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez’s recent purchase Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) stepping up to six furlongs following his success in Goodwood’s G3 Molecomb S. on July 29. Qatar Racing’s June 19 G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) renews rivalry with Middleham Park Racing’s Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with the latter denying him by the narrowest of margins in the G2 Prix Robert Papin over this trip at Chantilly on July 19. “The Molecomb winner was very impressive and Group 1s are never easy, but the horse seems in good form so we’ve got our fingers crossed,” trainer Michael Bell said of The Lir Jet. “He was in front before and just after the line in Chantilly, a real case of heads up, heads down, but unfortunately ours was up where it mattered. The horse who beat him is obviously a good horse in his own right. I don’t think he’s an out-and-out 2-year-old–you wouldn’t think it looking at him, as he’s a scopey sort. Hopefully the Commonwealth Cup might be on his agenda next season.”

Richard Hannon is hoping Ventura Tormenta can uphold the Robert Papin and said of him, “He is an Acclamation and he does exactly what it says on the tin. He is a reliable worker and is as good an Acclamation as we have had. They are rock hard and are made for racing and he is no different. In France it looked to me like he was running for second or third, but he stuck at it very well. This is another step up and he needs to find more, but he improved from his last run so hopefully he can do the same again.”

Also in the line-up is the July 18 G2 Railway S. first and second Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and that course-and-distance contest has always been a stepping stone to this. The winner’s trainer Ken Condon has a smart collection of juveniles in 2020 and said, “All has been fine with him and we’re looking forward to it. He’ll have to improve and step forward again, but he’s been good since and he’s well entitled to take his chance. He took a big step forward from his first to his second run and then from his second to his third, and has pleased us since.” According to jockey bookings, the one to head the trio bidding to give the current Ballydoyle set-up a 17th renewal is St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the half-brother to Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who was second on his sole start over this track and trip on July 26.

Elsewhere on the Curragh card, the story of the G3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint S. is whether the June 28 G2 Greenlands S. and July 5 G3 Ballycorus S. winner Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) can give nine pounds to last year’s G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), now that she has served notice that she is back to her best when winning by four lengths in Naas’s G3 Ballyogan S. over this six-furlong trip on July 22. At Salisbury, Shadwell’s June 16 Buckingham Palace H. and July 11 Bunbury Cup winner Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) steps into pattern company in the G3 AJN Steelstock Sovereign S., where he meets some established performers headed by the July 28 G2 Lennox S. runner-up Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

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Ventura Tormenta will be re-opposing The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), who he beat by a head in the Papin. The Lir Jet finished ahead of Ventura Tormenta when winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot.

“Middleham Park were keen to take the race on because the Morny was already looking over-subscribed,” said Ventura Tormenta’s trainer Richard Hannon. “I think this was a good opportunity for the horse to have a crack at a Group 1. He has come back from France well and has never looked better. He has put on weight and the whole experience of France will have done his confidence a lot of good. I think the track at The Curragh will suit him and he is a very straightforward horse. I think he is joint top-rated going into the race and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do. He will be renewing his rivalry with The Lir Jet, which will be a challenge, while there will be some other nice horses in there, which you expect at this level.”

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