16:40 Curragh

Saturday 12 August 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:4017:1017:40

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 12.53s

(1)

Bucanero Fuerte⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: A Murray| OR: 111| CD

9/4

Promising type. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 10/3, won 9-runner Railway Stakes at this C&D (good to firm) 41 days ago by short head from Unquestionable. Remains open to progress and he's a major player.

Form: 131

(2)

Givemethebeatboys⁵³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 106| CD

10/1

Thrice-raced winner. C&D winner. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 1¾ lengths fourth of 20 to River Tiber in Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good, 7/1) 53 days ago. More needed.

Form: 114

(5)

His Majesty²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

12/1

Useful colt. Course winner. Winner here in May. 42/10, creditable 4 lengths second of 5 to Ramatuelle in Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly (6f, good) 27 days ago. Ryan Moore prefers Unquestionable.

Form: 13432

(3)

Unquestionable⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| BF| CD

13/8

Promising individual. C&D winner. Short-head second of 9 to Bucanero Fuerte in Railway Stakes (15/8) at this C&D (good to firm) 41 days ago. Leading claims.

Form: 312

(4)

Gaenari^h⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan| T: D Dias| OR: 93

50/1

Fairly useful filly. 1¾ lengths second of 10 to Graceful Thunder in listed race (72/10) at Deauville (5f, soft) 7 days ago, keeping on well. Back up in trip and probably biting off more than she can chew at this level.

Form: 2262

(7)

Launch⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Halpin| T: A Murray| OR: 85

150/1

Fairly useful filly. Third of 4 in minor event at Naas (5f, soft, 3/1) 5 days ago. Bucanero Fuerte is clearly the stable first-string.

Form: 230733

(6)

Porta Fortuna⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: O Murphy| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 106| C| D

7/2

Thrice-raced winner. Won 17-runner Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm, 5/1) 50 days ago by length from Matrika, pushed out. Has to enter calculations.

Form: 111

Forecasts

Unquestionable (13/8), Bucanero Fuerte (9/4), Porta Fortuna (7/2), Givemethebeatboys (10/1), His Majesty (12/1), Gaenari (50/1), Launch (150/1)

There wasn't much between BUCANERO FUERTE and Unquestionable in the Railway Stakes over this C&D last month, and it should be close between them once again. Bucanero Fuerte displayed a willing attitude that day and, with further progress on the cards, he may again have the edge on Aidan O'Brien's charge. Porta Fortuna is 3-3 following her success in the Albany at Royal Ascot and, also open to further improvement, she is likely to give the aforementioned colts plenty to think about.