Report: Curragh, Sunday

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group1) 2yo, 6f

AIDAN O’BRIEN completed a Group 1 double on Sunday afternoon as Pedro The Great gave him a record-breaking 12^thwin in this race.

It was not, however, his supposed first choice Cristoforo Colombo who added to his impressive tally in the Phoenix Stakes as that one came down when travelling supremely well entering the final furlong, leaving the door open for 10-1 stablemate Pedro The Great to win under Seamie Heffernan.

 O’Brien, who earlier in the afternoon took the Jacques le Marois in Deauville with Excelebration, has won this race seven times in the last ten years, including with two subsequent Classic winners, and Pedro The Great was given a first show of 33-1 with Paddy Power for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

 This was a second win in four starts for the son of Henrythenavigator, but the race may have panned out differently if Joseph O’Brien had not become the third high-profile jockey of the afternoon to take a tumble.

Ryan Moore was forced to watch on as Excelebration won following a fall in France earlier on, while there was a delay to the Phoenix after Johnny Murtagh parted company with Lottie Dod on the way to post. Murtgah was replaced by Pat Smullen.

Thankfully both O’Brien and Cristoforo Colombo were up on their feet to walk back down the track after Pedro The Great had crossed the line two and three-quarter lengths clear of Leitir Mor with favourite Probably unplaced.

This was a return to winning form for Pedro The Great after he could manage only fifth in the Railway Stakes last time and Heffernan said: “We blamed the ground the last day but I might have ridden him wrong.

“From the two-marker he was making a move and I pushed him all the way. I don’t see why he shouldn’t get seven furlongs or a mile.”

Cristoforo Colombo suffered a cut on the inside of his leg, which was being checked out after the race, while Pedro The Great will probably go for the National Stakes on September 15 his trainer said.   

Starspangledbanner, a dual Group 1 winner when he was last seen on the track in 2010, trailed in last of the runners on his return to action in the Group 3 Patrick P O’Leary Memorial Phoenix Stakes.

The six-year-old dropped right out after making the early running with Fire Lily eventually landing the spoils.

Winning trainer David Wachman said: “The form of the July Cup has worked out well with Ortensia and Hawkeyethenoo winning at Goodwood and she is in the Betfred Sprint Cup, but I think she will probably come back here next month for the Renaissance Stakes.”

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