The impressive Sun Goddess

Sun Goddess lands Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh

Horse Racing

Sun August 09, 2026 · 2d ago

Sun Goddess came from last to first in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Runner-up in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes, Sun Goddess had a successful first crack at Group 1 company for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore who were completing a treble on the card.

Moore settled his mount in last, towards the inside, as stablemate Carry The Flag took the field along under Ronan Whelan with The Scallionator another to show early pace.

Celeron raced in a share of third towards the centre of the track where he was soon joined by Velozee who caught the eye moving easily.

Meanwhile, Moore advanced his position on the inside with Sun Goddess making ground under a drive and the Sioux Nation filly hit the front inside the final furlong, running on well to win by a length and a quarter.

She was chased home by Folsom Blues who took the runner-up spot by half-a-length as Velozee faltered close home.

The first three pulled over three lengths clear of the remainder.

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Speaking to Racing TV, O'Brien said: "She's very special we think.

"Before Ascot she had a foot bruise for a few days so when she got to the front at Ascot Ryan felt she tired a little bit. We felt she would improve and we took a chance and ran her back here a week later in a Group 2 which was a big chance but she won, I'd say on pure ability but probably wasn't at her best.

"She had a good run into this, her work was beautiful. She's such a good looking, slick filly. We were going to put the pace on today, the ground was beautiful, and we were going to find out whether she was a six furlong filly or could she get seven.

"We found out. Ryan gave her a beautiful ride, he was very patient, he was very confident on her. His plan was to get there very late and he said when he started moving she ended up getting there too early but then he asked her and she went again. It happened a little bit like that at Ascot but for other reasons she tired on him but today she didn't.

"She's obviously very good, very high quality. Everything about her is right. Looking at her today she'll probably get seven; she could go to the Moyglare, she could go to the Cheveley Park and she could go to America at the end if you wanted.

"I'd say she could [go a mile next season]. When they have physical scope like that and she's clear winded and has a mind like that, I'd imagine a mile shouldn't be any problem to her; she might even get a mile this year but at the same time I wouldn't think she'd get much further next year.

"The lads will decide what they want to do. We try and keep them split up as long as we can. The Moyglare is an important race so if they are all well at the time The Lads will decide what they want to do but it's the Debutante before that but this filly obviously won't be going there, it's Group 1s from now on."

Sun Goddess lands Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh

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