Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

FOR only the third time in the last 27 years, the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes went for export as Ebro River pulled off a mild surprise for Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer and jockey Shane Foley who experienced the highs and lows of racing on both sides of the Atlantic in less than 24 hours.

Foley could have been forgiven for thinking that by far his best chance of big race glory last weekend lay with Cadillac in Saturday’s Saratoga Derby but that one came up well short which made for what must have seemed a rather long journey back home. However, redemption was at hand courtesy of this first-crop representative of Galileo Gold who recaptured his early season promise in admirable style.

After bolting up in Sandown’s National Stakes in late May, Ebro River (12/1) had since come up short in three tries at Group 2 level. However, he hadn’t been beaten any more than two lengths in those contests, the most recent of which yielded a close fourth to Asymmetric in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

The switch to slow ground last Sunday promised to work in Ebro River’s favour but even more so a change of tactics was key for this Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt. For the first time in his seven-race career he was asked to go forward and make the running and he appeared to revel in a switch to forcing tactics as well as having the benefit of a crucial berth hard against the stands’ side rail.

It was perhaps a little surprising that the Railway Stakes winner Go Bears Go didn’t hold the outright early lead but he raced on the pace with the longshot The Entertainer while Ebro River always looked to be going comfortably closest to the rail. As the race began to unfold in earnest Castle Star made his customary stylish move into contention from the rear while the twice raced Dr Zempf also made his way into reckoning and Go Bears Go began to raise his effort.

There was a period where Ebro River looked vulnerable with those on his outer all appearing to come with menacing efforts, but Foley’s mount was not found wanting when called upon. One by one he turned them away and he was nicely on top at the line where he had three-parts of a length to spare over Dr Zempf which provided Palmer with his first Group 1 triumph in this country since Covert Love won the 2015 Irish Oaks. There was a head back to Go Bears Go who crossed the line a length ahead of Castle Star.

“My head was down on the ground last night but that’s the ups and downs of racing for you. I flew down privately with Ryan (Moore) to Boston to catch a flight home and I must say a big thank you to the Magniers for letting me do that as only for that I wouldn’t be here today,” exclaimed a delighted Foley who was making it back-to-back wins in this race following Lucky Vega’s success in 2020.

“After talking to Hugo I knew he fancied the horse to run a big race and I’d suggest to him that maybe we might change tactics a little as they had been dropping him and today with the little bit of tailwind, I thought that maybe those up front could take a bit of catching,” continued the rider.

“In fairness to the horse he’s done well to stay going as I felt we went an end to end gallop. After being in my hands a bit for the first half of the race I was worried that they might swallow him up but I had a very willing partner and he’d still have been in front if we were going another half a furlong,” concluded Foley.

Group 1 targets for improving Gustavus

JOE Murphy is hot on the trail of a first top-level triumph after stable star Gustavus Weston provided yet further evidence that he is in the form of his life with an impressive trail-blazing effort in the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes.

The Alfred Sweetnam-owned five-year-old won this race in 2019 before enduring something of a fallow period, but in recent months he has roared back to peak form. A victory in the Greenlands Stakes here in May was followed by an excellent second under a penalty in the Sapphire Stakes and he looked at least as good ever here under Gary Carroll.

Gustavus Weston (7/2) led from early on and sustained his effort in great style to finish two and a quarter lengths ahead of Power Under Me.

“We’re delighted with that and this was a stepping stone to next month’s Haydock Sprint Cup. After that we could come back here the following week for the Flying Five and there is the Prix de l’Abbaye in October,” outlined Murphy. “He’s just a different horse since we changed things with him and he now lives in a barn on his own. He’s a stronger, more relaxed horse and he keeps improving.”

Eddie Lynam has a nice recruit on his hands in Jon Riggens (9/4) who made a winning start for the yard in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

This son of Requinto, who is owned by DWPJ Investments Ltd, was second in two maidens for Sean Hennessy earlier in the summer and he carried that form into this five-furlong contest. Jon Riggens had plenty to do from two furlongs out but eased into contention in taking fashion and readily asserted for Shane Crosse to defeat stablemate Heavenly Power by a length and a quarter. The winner appeals as one that can progress well from here.

“He did it well and I’d say he will go into handicaps. His previous trainer did a great job with him and the lads bought him and asked me would I train him. He’s owned by a syndicate made up of David, Willie and Paddy Power and Johnny Hartnett,” commented Lynam.

IN a prelude to his big-race heroics, Shane Foley took the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on Cowboy Justice.

This Alpha Racing-owned son of Lope De Vega was sent off the 2/1 favourite to build on a debut second to the subsequent Group 3 scorer Beauty Inspire, and he made most of the running.

The well-backed newcomer Swan Bay (8/1-5/1) came with quite a rattle over the last furlong but the line arrived in time for Cowboy Justice to prevail by a neck.

The winner holds Group 1 and Group 2 entries on Irish Champions Weekend

“Shane felt he was getting a bit lonely out in front and he’s still a bit immature so he will improve again from this. He’s a nice horse and I think we will stick to seven furlongs for the time being as opposed to going a mile,” stated Harrington.

The Zhang Yuesheng-owned My Holy Fox provided the same trainer and jockey with further success in the DMG Median Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.

An own-sister to the Irish Oaks second Banimpire and a close relation of the Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment, this daughter of Holy Roman Emperor looked like one that could improve over further.

The 17/2 shot was under pressure some way out but kept finding more for Foley and her last furlong was her strongest as she pulled away to defeat Punakha by three-parts of a length.

“She was very green at Gowran a couple of weeks ago (fourth to Miramis) but she finished well. At halfway I was wondering had I made a mistake running over this trip again but she stuck at it very well. I think she likes to get her toe in,” reported the trainer.

‘All about next year’ for classy Cairde

THERE was a quality juvenile on show in the Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race where Cairde Go Deo justified odds-on favouritism.

When the two previous winners in the line up for this seven-furlong contest were taken out, the Ger Lyons-trained and Mark Dobbin-owned daughter of Camelot looked to hold compelling claims on the basis of her debut second to Suwayra at Leopardstown last month.

Cairde Go Deo produced a display in keeping with her position as the 8/13 favourite as she led from just under two furlongs out for Colin Keane and galloped away from her rivals in great style to finish four and a half lengths clear of the newcomer History. Interestingly, this race was run in a time just over two seconds quicker than the maiden won by Cowboy Justice.

“It’s all about next year with her and we’re in no rush with her which is why she has no early closing entries, but we wouldn’t rule out supplementing her for something in the autumn. She got away with the ground today and she wants to go a mile,” declared the trainer’s brother, Shane.

The progressive No More Porter (9/2) recorded his second victory of the season and did so off an 18lbs higher mark than the one he first won off with a battling effort in the TRI Equestrian Handicap over a mile.

The well-supported Johnny Feane inmate was always up with the pace for Wayne Lordan and showed a fine attitude over the course of the last furlong to defeat Comfort Line by half a length. The winner carries the colours of the No More Porter Syndicate.

Rock solid

Dragons Call came within touching distance of giving Johnny Feane a double but in a tight finish to the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Handicap she was outpointed by the veteran Texas Rock (20/1) who was continuing a great run for Michael Grassick.

The Joe Keeling-owned 10-year-old had gone almost four years without a win but the ability that has carried him to two listed triumphs over the course of his career is still there and he fought on valiantly for Billy Lee over the course of the last furlong to carry the day by a head.

“He was dropping down in grade and the handicapper has given him a chance,” commented Grassick. “It’s great for Joe (Keeling). He’s been very good to me and it’s nice to reward him. I’d love to have another crack at the Bold Lad on Champions Weekend if he got into it. He’s probably not high enough but he could run again here later this month and if he won again he could get in.”