Phoenix Stakes Day Betting Tips From The Curragh
All eyes will be on The Curragh on Saturday for some top-quality action, the highlight being the Phoenix Stakes (16:00), a Group 1 for two-year-olds that was established in 1902. As with most races at the top level in Ireland, Aidan O’Brien has been a dominant force and he’s got every chance of making it 18 wins in the contest, the Ballydoyle maestro responsible for three of the six runners.
There is some competitive supporting action on the card, the opening juvenile maiden (13:45 having attracted a huge field of 30 runners, while the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint (15:25) has plenty of British interest.
There are eight races in all at The Curragh on Saturday and we have selected our best bets.
13:45 - Irish EBF Maiden (7f)
This juvenile event has been won by some notable names in recent seasons, Al Riffi (2022) and Delacroix (2024) both opening their accounts in this before tasting success at the highest level, while Diego Valezquez (2023) won multiple times in Group 2 company subsequently. Aidan O’Brien has won the last two runnings and he can bring up the hat-trick courtesy of CHARLES FORT, who shaped well when second on his debut over 6f at Fairyhouse and holds some big-race engagements. Stablemate Mountain Hawk is the likely danger.
Selection: Charles Fort
14:15 - Irish EBF Maiden (6f)
This has attracted a maximum field of 30 and it’s surely a race that will throw up plenty of future winners. Won in each of the past two seasons by Aidan O’Brien, most recently by Ides Of March, who went onto claim the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes next time, it’s probably wise to focus on the Ballydoyle runners once again. Preference is for MISSION CENTRAL, who can leave his inauspicious debut on the AW at Dundalk well behind him now that he’s been gelded. Ryan Moore has chosen him over the stable’s other pair of runners.
Selection: Mission Central
14:50 - Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race (7f)
YELLOWSTONE LAKE can turn the tables on Fairy Oak from their meeting over 6.5f at Leopardstown last month, this slightly longer trip and 4lb pull at the weights likely to give Paddy Twomey’s filly the edge. Entered in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes back over this course and distance in a fortnight, she’ll need to win well here to justify that entry. Ger Lyons’ Justiciar shaped well on her introduction and might give the selection most to think about.
Selection: Yellowstone Lake
15:25 - Handicap (1m2f)
British-trained sprinters tend to do well when making the trip to Ireland and a handful line up in a good quality renewal of this Group 3 contest. Preference is for the James Fanshawe-trained KIND OF BLUE, who sets the standard on ratings (113) but might be overlooked in the betting following a couple of below-par efforts last year. He was runner-up in this race 12 months ago prior to posting some excellent efforts in Group 1 company, including his win in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October.
Selection: Kind Of Blue
16:00 - Phoenix Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
Aidan O’Brien looks well equipped to claim a remarkable 18th win in this leading juvenile contest, the master of Ballydoyle saddling the first and second favourites, both of whom won at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore has opted for unbeaten Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad and he’s unlikely to be far away. However, TRUE LOVE was long odds-on when finishing just behind that colt at Naas in May and she has improved markedly since, winning the Group 2 Queen Mary and following up with a dominant success in the Group 2 Railway Stakes over this course and distance. She’s top-rated and receives a handy 3lb sex allowance.
Selection: True Love
16:35 - Handicap (5f)
Michael Grassick’s GAZELLE D’OR loves this track and while she lost her unbeaten record there in the Premier Scurry Stakes over 6.5f last month, she ran extremely well to finish fourth from out of the weights, despite meeting trouble in-running. She is able to race off her proper mark on this occasion and should appreciate the drop back to 5f, having won in good style over course and distance in June. Wayne Lordon, who was aboard on that occasion, is reunited with the filly.
Selection: Gazelle d’Or
17:05 - Handicap (6f)
David Marnane’s AVIATRICE hasn’t had much go right since winning a 6f maiden at Dundalk last November, finishing second on her handicap debut on reappearance over a mile, before stumbling at the start and meeting serious traffic problems when fourth over 7f at Leopardstown last month. A beaten favourite when making the running at Galway latest, she’ll likely benefit from a return to hold-up tactics and the drop back in distance.
Selection: Aviatrice
17:40 - Handicap (1m)
The switch from cheekpieces to a visor looks a positive move for the lightly raced ESHERANN, who has the potential to exploit his current mark of 85. The Dermot Weld-trained colt kept on strongly to score over this trip at Naas in June, recording a Racing Post Rating of 92 in the process. He didn’t quite replicate that level upped in trip at Leopardstown last month, but he’s had only four starts and is open to significantly more improvement than many of today’s rivals.
Selection: Esherann