Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 18:53 | Winning time: 1m 17.14s

(5)

Monarch Of Egypt⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

6/4

Son of US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah made a big impression on debut before finding Siskin 2½L too good in C&D Railway Stakes. Yard won 16 of last 21 runnings of this and he looks stable top hope on jockey bookings so should get closer now.

Form: 12

(1)

Mount Fuji²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95

25/1

Won on debut in a Cork 5f maiden in May before finding everything happening too quickly in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot finishing 11th of 14. Well held in 6½f Group Three (fifth of seven) here latest and looks stable third string.

Form: 105

(3)

Royal Lytham²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| D

9/2

Made a winning start to his career when picking up a Navan maiden over just short of 6f before fair seventh of 17 in Coventry at Royal Ascot (Group Two). Won July Stakes at Newmarket at that level since and could yet prove stable's best hope.

Form: 171

(2)

Siskin⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 110| CD

10/11

Had Ballydoyle two-year-olds behind in maiden win at Naas, Listed Marble Hill over C&D and Group Two Railway again over C&D (Monarch Of Egypt second). Five horses since 2000 done the Railway-Phoenix double and his chance is exceptional here.

Form: 111

(4)

Think Big¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J J Murphy| OR: 89

50/1

Took a huge step forward from debut when reeled in close home at Fairyhouse over 6f before making no mistake over 5f at Down Royal earning a rating of 89 which is the lowest of the four with marks here; it gives him 21lb to find with Siskin.

Form: 621

Forecasts

Siskin (10/11), Monarch Of Egypt (6/4), Royal Lytham (9/2), Mount Fuji (25/1), Think Big (50/1)

This looks a great opportunity for the prolific Keane-Lyons duo to gain a greatly deserved first Group One together with SISKIN who can confirm himself as one of the best two-year-olds in Europe with success. Conquered by the selection latest but still Ballydoyle number one, Monarch Of Egypt can get closer here given he is a race behind Siskin so more open to improvement. Royal Lytham could very easily prove the biggest danger to the selection, his July stakes win latest is form close to that registered by Siskin in the Railway.