Sun Goddess matched Victorious rating in her Phoenix Stakes win

Sun Goddess first filly to win Phoenix Stakes for Ballydoyle

Though there was nothing much to speak of on these shores on Sunday, Aidan O'Brien enjoyed another successful trip to the Curragh with his juveniles, as Ibelieveicanfly and Shakespeare joined Phoenix Stakes-winning stablemate Sun Goddess (now 108p) on the scoresheet.

The last-named took her form to a borderline smart level in following up from the Airlie Stud, this just about as good as what stablemate and highest rated two-year-old filly by Timeform, Victorious, achieved when winning an extremely strong Queen Mary. A first winning filly in the race for O'Brien, this proves 7f will be within range and she'll help form what is likely to be a strong hand for the yard in the Moyglare, better still to come and deserving to be high on the shortlist for that or the Cheveley Park should she turn up there instead.

Appleby sprinter re-finds his Mojo

The other group race on the card, the Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3), saw Big Mojo (117) unpenalised for his Group 1 success last season and he duly capitalised on the drop in grade, becoming the latest British-trained sprinter to land a valuable prize in Ireland. He will presumably now bid to retain his Sprint Cup crown, the news that Venetian Sun will miss the remainder of the season meaning that it now looks wide open. It's worth remembering that he did hold a big advantage last year by being positioned towards the stand rail, ante-post prices of 14/1 seeming about right.

Mixed fortunes for British raiders in Deauville

Over in France, Distant Storm (trained by Charlie Appleby, 113) and Behike (trained by George Scott, also now rated 113), won on the undercard, but the British and Irish raiders were out of luck in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest as Samangan (up 3 lb to 117) fended off the William Haggas-trained Division, with Take Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh), True Love (Aidan O'Brien), Rosy Affair (George Boughey) and Wise Approach (Appleby) the next four home after the third-placed Stolen Kiss.

The Francis-Henri Graffard-trai winner turned the from around with True Love on their run behind Thesecretadversary in the Prix Jean Prat, whilst also reversing form with Division who was three places ahead of him when they were third and sixth respectively in the Commonwealth Cup. Samangan was well placed in a race that wasn't strongly run but showed a good attitude and improved form to record a first win in Group 1 company, but the bunched finish appeared to confirm that there is no standout performer amongst the sprinters.

Saturday highlights

Ascot's Shergar Cup took place on Saturday, with Ryan Moore amongst the riders for the first time since 2006. It was a worthwhile jaunt, too, with a couple of winners helping the Great Britain and Ireland team to the overall title, as the victory of Archers Bay (up to 105) not only secured the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award for Moore, but edged GB&I ahead of Team Hong Kong.

The winner's previous effort was easy to excuse, and he resumed winning ways upped to 1½m, seeing out the trip strongly having been well placed in a modestly-run affair. The Marco Botti-trained colt is unexposed over this sort of trip and could have even more to offer, with 1¾m likely to be within his compass, too.

While the likes of Dancing In Paris (now 100) and Moore's other winner Asgaard's Captain (up to 101) bounced back into the winner's enclosure, the most signifcant performance on the card arguably came from Tuco Salamanca (up to 114) in the opening dash. He wasn't seen to best effect in the Stewards' Cup a week previously and had done most of his winning on all-weather, but produced a career best to prove himself just as effective on turf, settling things nicely with a good turn of foot on his first try at 5f. Recording a time quicker than standard, this win opens up more options going forward.

Over at Haydock, Sallaal (remains on 124) didn't need to improve but got the job done with little fuss in the Betway Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3). He is being brought along steadily but will hold his own in even stronger company; he holds entries in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday, and the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

Calendar Girl impresses

Calendar Girl (103 from 98p) also stretched her own winning streak to three when making a winning return in the listed Dick Hern Stakes. A tall, good-topped filly, she quickly developed into a useful sort at two and, upped in trip after 10 months off, picked up where she left off; she will be worth her place back in group company next time.

Over at Newmarket's July Course, Eve Johnson Houghton secured the first two races on the card, including the Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) with Sugar Yes Please (now 96p), a race which was won by subsequent classic winners in 2023 and 2024. Whether the winner and second (Nuit d'Eclair, 95), who finished clear of the rest, can make the same impact at a higher level remaining to be seen, though they are clearly going the right way. The winner deserves extra credit for overhauling one that got first run on her and is well worth a chance at a higher level still.

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