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English Raiders Look to Stop Ballydoyle's Record Breaking Phoenix Stakes Bid 04/08/11 The race used to be run as the Phoenix Plate and on the Phoenix Park course, but was transferred originally to Leopardstown and then to the Curragh in 2002 after Phoenix closed at the end of the 1990 season. gained Group One status in 1979 and carries a first prize of over around £110,000. Throughout the 1950s, twice in the 60s and twice in the early 70s, the race was totally dominated by the legendary trainer, Paddy Prendergast who saddled 11 winners. Amazingly, that record was equalled last year by Aidan O’Brien, when his talented Zoffany took the race. It was O’Brien’s 11th winner in just 13 years and this year he has six entries as he clearly intends on setting a new record. Many of those past winners have gone on to bigger and better things as older horses. Mastercraftsman, who won the race in 2008 went on to win the Irish 2000 Guineas the following season, while 2005 winner, George Washington took the English 2000 Guineas in 2006.
As it stands currently, Power has been installed as the 7/4 favourite in the Phoenix Stakes odds, while Frederick Engels looks much better value at 4/1. Second favourite in the betting is the Richard Hannon trained, Lilbourne Lad, who travelled over to the Curragh at the end of June where he won the Group Two Railway Stakes, which was his third win in four starts as a juvenile and looks like a hot prospect from a stable whose two year olds are always tough to beat. The third British challenger from England comes in the shape of the Mick Channon trained, Gatepost who will need to have improved considerably if he is to reverse form with Power who defeated him comfortably in the Coventry Stakes. Gatepost could only manage fifth place that day and was nearly three lengths adrift, before that however he won both of his two starts and would not necessarily be out of the mix completely. The last British win in the race came back in 1997 when the Mark Johnston trained, Princely Heir took the race. |
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