Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

AIDAN O’Brien hailed Sun Goddess as “an absolute beauty with all quality” after she became his 18th winner of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes - though she earned the distinction of becoming the first filly he has trained to plunder the Group 1.

There was no hiding place over six furlongs on fast ground at the Curragh on Sunday, with the winner’s stablemate Carry The Flag taking no prisoners on the front end. Ryan Moore elected to stay well away from that hot tempo aboard the 5/4 market leader, who had defied a short turnaround to win the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes here on Irish Derby weekend.

The powerful daughter of Sioux Nation, extremely well bought for £120,000 out of Owenstown Stud at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, gave generously when asked to improve and wasn’t afraid to roll her sleeves up to get on terms. She shaped as though seven furlongs should be within her compass - and potentially even a North American mile - for the Smith-Magnier-Tabor-Westerberg partnership.

Joseph O’Brien and Al Shira'aa Racing’s Folsom Blues posted a big showing in defeat in second, with his proven stamina over further serving him well in a strongly-run race, while Paddy Twomey’s battle-hardened Velozee earned valuable Group 1 blacktype in third. Carry The Flag did extremely well to finish fourth, given his early exertions.

Last month’s Railway Stakes winner Celeron was sent off the 6/4 second favourite and never managed to land a telling blow. However, he was found to be lame behind post race.

Speaking after the Albany Stakes second ran out a convincing length-and-a-quarter winner, O’Brien said: “This is a beautiful filly. She went to Royal Ascot a little under par, with the benefit of hindsight [having had a slight hold-up in her preparation] and then came back to win here a week later. Everything went well in between then and here and she’s obviously very special.

“She has a lot of gears, a very high cruising pace. Ryan said they went fast and he just said when he starts to ask her, she motors away. She gets there very easily. He said she'll have no problem getting seven furlongs. She’s obviously a very good filly, very classy, a long good-looking filly by Sioux Nation. John [Tuthill of Owenstown Stud] bred her. She's very exciting. An absolute beauty with all quality.

“It was a good, strong, evenly-run race on beautiful ground. She would have learned a lot today and we learned about her. This has been a good race for us at a good time of year. This race really exposes a horse and allows us to learn about a horse. Ryan gave her a lovely ride; was patient and calm.”

On what lies ahead for the now 10/1 shot for the 1000 Guineas, he added: “She can do anything. She could go for the Moyglare Stakes, she could wait for a Cheveley Park Stakes, she probably will step out to a mile if we ever want her in America or somewhere. She has all the options because she’s so relaxed and has a long stride. She’s very exciting. Ronan [Whelan] said Carry The Flag is a lovely horse but would enjoy going back to five furlongs.”

It also emerged in the post-race debrief that Ballydoyle’s “very special” Queen Mary Stakes winner Victorious is likely to miss the remainder of the year through injury, though it was not necessarily described as a career-threatening setback.

O’Brien explained: “Victorious probably might not run any more this year. She was a little off behind and, with fillies like that, you have to be careful. I’m not sure, but there won’t be any risks taken. They’re two serious fillies, her and Sun Goddess.”

Dylan Browne McMonagle believes the future is very bright for Folsom Blues, who followed up a fast-finishing Tyros Stakes second with another improved showing to fill the same spot here.

“He’s a very good horse and it was a great run from him,” said the champion jockey.

“We went a good, strong gallop and he picked up well when I asked him. He’ll probably be at his best when he steps up to seven furlongs, but he’s top class.”

Billy Lee was thrilled with listed winner Velozee, who posted a clear career best for owners Gary Matthews, Steve Weston and Lucky Hat.

“I’m very happy with her, she’s run a great race,” said Lee. “She travelled beautifully and took me into it well. She had no problem on the ground, she just levelled off a little. It’s a mighty run and to get Group 1 blacktype is a brilliant result for everyone.”