RACING:JAMIE SPENCER has enjoyed something of a Group One renaissance this year and Aidan O'Brien's former stable jockey can break the champion trainer's stranglehold of tomorrow's Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh with Gatepost.
O’Brien’s record in most top-flight events is second to none anyway but there is nothing to compare with the way he has dominated Europe’s first Group One of the season for juveniles after landing a remarkable 11 of the last 13 renewals.
They include former Ballydoyle stars of the calibre of George Washington, Johannesburg and Mastercraftsman although of the 11 only Fasliyev in 1999 managed to win the Phoenix after earlier scoring in Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes.
The unbeaten Power will attempt to do the same tomorrow as he leads a trio of O’Brien runners that also includes May’s course winner Reply. Power, however, is the undoubted Balldoyle number one and Ryan Moore’s injury means he is reunited with Seamus Heffernan.
“I’m delighted to have the ride back on him. He’s one of our smartest two-year-olds and he’s a Group Two winner. It seems like he has been improving the whole time,” Heffernan said yesterday. “He’s a tough horse with a big heart and responds when you really need him.”
Moore gave a similar bulletin after the Coventry when he also revealed how Power had been lame earlier that week but that wasn’t enough to stop him beating Roman Soldier.
A literal reading of that form means there is little or nothing between Power and Frederick Engels who landed the Windsor Castle at Ascot before also beating Roman Soldier in the July Stakes. He is one of a trio of British hopes and his rider Johnny Murtagh is looking for a fourth win in a row in the race.
Of the British trio, Gatepost might hold the least obvious claims given Lilbourne Lad won the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Derby day. But even a cursory look back at the Coventry reveals how Mick Channon’s colt took a “zig-zag” route through the race having been drawn on the far side before being navigated across the track by Spencer.
That he was only beaten just over a couple of lengths by Power was no mean effort and it is significant that Channon is keen to try and secure just a second Irish Group One success with Gatepost.
“We were beaten two and a quarter lengths and you would hope we’d be competitive. He’s a very nice horse and I think a lot of him. We’re not frightened to take anything on,” said Channon who named the horse after he gave himself a scar on a back leg when colliding with a gatepost.
Spencer is on something of a retrieval mission on Gatepost but he has enjoyed Group One success in Britain and the US with Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco this season. He can add Ireland to that list this weekend.
There’s a school of thought that suggests the best juvenile running at the Curragh tomorrow won’t be appearing in the Phoenix at all but in the Group Two Debutante Stakes.
Maybe has looked exceptional in three starts to date, especially when trouncing her opposition in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Tomorrow’s Group Two looks a very strong renewal with the Tyros winner Remember Alexander tackling her and winners from the other major yards in the country also taking their chance. But Maybe can keep her unbeaten record intact.
Await The Dawn’s defection from the Royal Whip looks to give Banimpire a first rate chance of getting back on the winning trail after getting mugged in the last stride of the Irish Oaks by Blue Bunting.
The Group Three Phoenix Sprint appears much more competitive with a strong British challenge headed by the Wokingham winner Deacon Blues. He faces no easy task against Hitchens, however, a course winner already who finished a hugely creditable third to Dream Ahead in the July Cup at Newmarket.
Aidan O’Brien unveils three unraced daughters of Galileo in the opening mile maiden and both Purple and Was already hold Moyglare entries. The latter could be one to examine as the relation to New Approach cost 1.2 million guineas as a yearling.
