It's a Group 1 Saturday at the Curragh as Ireland's flat racing HQ stages the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes card.
The six-furlong feature race goes to post at 4.40pm and carries a top prize of €180,000 as some of the smartest young sprinters around do battle.
Enda McElhinney has a pair of selections for the big race and some more thoughts on the undercard at the Curragh on Saturday.
4.40 – Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
A field of seven will contest the Curragh feature after ante-post favourite River Tiber was not declared for the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, with trainer Aidan O'Brien expected to send his unbeaten juvenile to France for the Prix Morny instead.
That leaves the Ballydoyle supremo relying on Unquestionable, who is the mount of Ryan Moore, and His Majesty in the hands of Seamie Heffernan.
Unquestionable finished third behind His Majesty on debut over 5f at the Curragh in early May before a C&D maiden win at the end of the month. The Wootton Bassett colt has since finished a gallant second in the Railway Stakes and should have more to offer.
His Majesty, meanwhile, was held in a Group 3 over C&D on his second start after that opening success and then managed only fourth in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot back down at five furlongs.
He was four lengths behind in third in the Railway Stakes as his stablemate improved past him.
BUCANERO FUERTE took the honours in that Group 2 contest and he makes most appeal for veteran trainer Adrian Murry. Murray has enjoyed a phenomenal campaign with his two-year-olds and victory in this Group 1 would cap a fine season.
Bucanero Fuerte won a Curragh maiden on debut before finishing third in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. He rallied bravely to get on top of Unquestionable here six weeks ago and, with further improvement likely, the Wootton Bassett colt is taken to justify the decision of his trainer to leave him as his chief representative here.
Gaenari also appears to have plenty to find but another filly, the unbeaten Porta Fortuna for trainer Donnacha O'Brien and jockey Oisin Murphy, might be one of the main threats on her first start since winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Matrika was second that day but has won a Group 2 at the Curragh since.
The Railway Stakes looks the key piece of form and an action replay is forecast.
2.15 - ARC American Racing Channel Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Juvenile Race (7f)
Going against Ballydoyle on such prestigious days as this can be unwise but having done so in the feature, it is hoped that O'Brien-Moore team will have enjoyed some success before the big race with OPERA SINGER in the 7f Fillies Juvenile Race.
The daughter of Justify had plenty go wrong when held on debut over C&D in June at the Irish Derby meeting but has since shown her true colours to win a Leopardstown maiden over a mile, and she should fare much better with that under her belt.
Dermot Weld's Frankel newcomer Red Viburnum could be one to note in the betting alongside Vive Veuve for Emmet Mullins, but the form danger is likely to be Kevin Prendergast's Profit Refused – third in a good race at Limerick on debut over 7f and a comfortable winner since at Roscommon over further.
The speedy A Lilac Rolla – a daughter of Harry Angel – for Paddy Twomey will be a threat to all if this turns into a dash for home.
3.25 - Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3, 6f)
Ireland's older sprinters are not a vintage crop and it is no shock that Michael Dods returns to the Curragh with COMMANCHE FALLS – a winner of a Listed race over course and distance in July. His excellent summer has continued with a commanding, if slender, success in a Newbury Group 3 and connections can be very hopeful that more success awaits.
Shartash was close behind at York and, now 2lb better off, Johnny Murtagh will hope his colt has a leading role to play back on home soil
