15:25 Curragh

Saturday 9 August 2025

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:40

FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 1m 8.91s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Art Power²⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 107| CD

18/1

Smart 3-time C&D winner who was runner-up twice at Group 2 level during a winless 2024 campaign. Wasn't firing on all cylinders when last seen, 9½ lengths thirteenth of 20 to Kind of Blue in Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot (6f) in October. Absent since but he returns with his yard in flying form.

Form: 042500-

(3)

Big Gossey^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Ronan Whelan| T: C O'Brien| OR: 107| CD

33/1

Smart veteran. 4-time C&D winner. 18/1, respectable 2¼ lengths fifth of 10 to Diego Velazquez in Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at this course (7f, soft) 20 days ago. No surprise to see him give another good account and he's certainly an each-way player.

Form: 453405

(8)

Bucanero Fuerte⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 110| CD

11/2

Enhanced excellent fresh when winning 7-runner listed race at Naas (5f) in May. Did that readily and seemingly kept fresh ahead of his tilt at this. Not ruled out.

Form: 3/1670-1

(12)

Kind Of Blue⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 113| BF| D

17/2

Developed into one of the best sprinters on debut season last year, taking another big leap forward when just failing in Sprint Cup at Haydock before going one better in Champions Sprint at Ascot. Comeback run best excused but disappointing at Newcastle later in June but big player if bouncing back.

Form: 3221-98

(1)

My Mate Alfie^b⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 112| CD

8/1

Smart gelding (3-time C&D winner) who finished an excellent third in this race 12 months ago before rattling off a quick-fire hat-trick thereafter (including a C&D Group 3). Comes here in top form, finishing a short-head second of 11 to Vespertilio here 6 weeks ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 111-252

(5)

Spycatcher³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 109| D

18/1

Bagged a Group 3 at Deauville last summer and returned to win a Doncaster listed race in March. Performed well on 2 of his 3 starts since, runner-up in Group 3 back at first-named venue 5 weeks ago. A repeat gives him definite claims of being involved.

Form: 56-1572

(11)

Nighteyes²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Coen| T: D O'Meara| OR: 105| D

14/1

Listed winner last summer who has acquitted herself with plenty of credit this season, fourth in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot prior to finishing a fine second of 11 to Sayidah Dariyan in Summer Stakes at York (6f, good to firm) 29 days ago, nearest finish. Type to give her running again.

Form: 10-8342

(13)

Vespertilio⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: W McCreery| OR: 104| CD

11/1

Useful filly who has looked better than ever campaigned mainly at sprint trips this season, resuming winning ways in 11-runner listed race at this C&D (good) 41 days ago, by short head from My Mate Alfie, driven out. Worth her place back in this company on that evidence.

Form: 75-2441

(4)

Babouche^t⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 111| CD

10/3

on first 3 starts at 2, notably C&D Group 1 12 months ago, and she easily resumed winning ways in Lacken Stakes at Naas (5.9f) in May, impressing with how she quickly settled matters. Pulled hard when well held in Commonwealth Cup latest and she's well worth another chance to get back on the up.

Form: 114-410

(7)

Black Forza^b1,t1³¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S Foley| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 103| D

50/1

Useful colt who landed the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last summer. Signed off with a creditable 5½ lengths fourth of 6 to Shadow of Light in Middle Park Stakes (12/1) at Newmarket (6f, good to soft) but this a tough ask on return from 10 months off. Blinkers/tongue tie fitted.

Form: 51144-

(14)

Ides Of March²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| CD

5/2

Dual 6f winner as a juvenile who resumed with good runners-up efforts in listed company on first 2 starts. Disappointed in Commonwealth Cup next time but ran much better despite finishing tenth of 14 to No Half Measures in July Cup at Newmarket (6f) 28 days ago. Each-way possibilities.

Form: 17-2200

(2)

Lady With The Lamp¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102| D

25/1

Three-time Listed winner at 6f including victories at Cork and Chelmsford this spring. Appeared to find Group 1 company too tough at Royal Ascot in June but not seen to best effect when midfield in listed company at Naas 17 days ago. However, this looks tougher still.

Form: 18-1106

Non-Runners

(15)

King Cuan⁴¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: P Twomey J: Non Runner

(9)

Tango Flare²¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: P T Foley J: Luke McAteer

(10)

Fregada⁴⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J Feane J: J A Heffernan

Forecasts

Ides Of March (5/2), Babouche (10/3), Bucanero Fuerte (11/2), My Mate Alfie (8/1), Kind Of Blue (17/2), Vespertilio (11/1), King Cuan (12/1), Nighteyes (14/1), Art Power (18/1), Spycatcher (18/1), Lady With The Lamp (25/1), Big Gossey (33/1), Fregada (33/1), Black Forza (50/1), Tango Flare (50/1)

Having impressed with how quickly she settled matters in Group 3 company at Naas back in May, BABOUCHE proved far too free when well held in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. This return to home soil is fully expected to see Ger Lyons' daughter of Kodiac in a much better light and she earns the vote to quickly bounce back. Last year's runner-up Kind of Blue needs to shrug off a couple of low-key efforts but is a big player if doing so. My Mate Alfie and Spycatcher are others in the mix.