Three Royal Ascot winners still in contention for a potentially thrilling Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday

Watch My Tracer (red silks) finishes behind River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and Scott is hoping his juvenile can provide him with some big-race success later in the season

River Tiber (near): won the Coventry Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Mark Cranham

The Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (4.40) at the Curragh on Saturday is shaping up to be a thriller with three Royal Ascot-winning two-year-olds still in contention after 12 juveniles were left in at the preliminary entry stage on Tuesday afternoon.

Aidan O'Brien landed the spoils last season courtesy of Little Big Bear, saddling his 17th winner in the last 25 runnings, and could be set to unleash unbeaten colt River Tiber, who prevailed in gutsy fashion in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen.

Ballydoyle could be well represented in the Group 1 with Unquestionable among the other possibles, having been narrowly denied over course and distance by Bucanero Fuerte in the Railway Stakes last month. Johannes Brahms finished three lengths behind last week's Molecomb Stakes winner Big Evs in the Windsor Castle at Ascot and he could step back up to six furlongs in the Group 1, while O'Brien elected to leave Alabama, His Majesty, and The Caribbean in the potential field.

The Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte could seek to re-establish his dominance over Unquestionable, with Kevin Stott already scheduled to take the mount.

Murray has unearthed some smart two-year-olds this season and his Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force is also in contention to join his stablemate this weekend. The son of Malibu Moon was last seen springing a 150-1 shock in the Norfolk Stakes under Rossa Ryan. Launch is another entry for Murray on the back of his third in a conditions race at Naas on Monday.

A third Royal Ascot winner could also line up as the unbeaten Porta Fortuna has been left in for trainer Donnacha O'Brien. She landed the Albany Stakes under Frankie Dettori, staying on powerfully to defeat subsequent Group 2 winner Matrika by a length.

Jessica Harrington saddled the 2020 winner with Lucky Vega and could be represented by Givemethebeatboys who is a Group 3 winner over course and distance. He finished a length and three quarters behind River Tiber when fourth in the Coventry.

Fresh from a Glorious Goodwood success a week ago, Diego Dias has elected to leave Gaenari in the race after she finished second in a Listed contest at Deauville on Saturday.

Field size woe continues for Racing League with no full races at Chepstow on Thursday

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Conor FennellyReporter and emerging talent award winner

Published on 8 August 2023inIreland

Last updated 17:58, 8 August 2023

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