Sun Goddess surged from the back of the field to claim Aidan O'Brien's 18th triumph in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, delivering a performance that will be remembered by racing fans for years to come. The filly, who entered the race as the 5-4 favourite, lived up to the lofty expectations set by the legendary horses that have previously captured this Group One title, such as Johannesburg in 2001, George Washington in 2005, Holy Roman Emperor in 2006 and Caravaggio in 2016. A quick glance at Sun Goddess's pedigree reveals that she is out of Sioux Nation, the mare who also secured this very race for O'Brien’s stable back in 2017.
The filly’s own record before the Phoenix Stakes was already impressive: she had won both of her previous starts over the same distance at the Curragh, including a Group Two victory that demonstrated her ability to handle high‑class competition. In between those wins she finished a close second to George Boughey’s Libertango in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, confirming that she could hold her own against the best of her generation.
On race day, stablemate Carry The Flag set a blistering early tempo, testing the stamina of the field. Ryan Moore, who was aboard Sun Goddess, chose to settle his mount patiently, allowing the filly to conserve energy while the leaders burned through the early stages. As the field turned into the final two furlongs, Moore asked Sun Goddess for a decisive move.
She responded with a smooth, powerful surge on the inside rail, overtaking the tiring leaders with apparent ease. By the finish line she was a length and a quarter ahead of the runner‑up, Folsom Blues, and the crowd could see why O'Brien was already praising her. "She’s a beautiful filly," O'Brien said in the post‑race interview. "She ran well at Naas on her first day, then came back here to win her maiden, and after that she went to Ascot and was probably a little under‑par – hindsight makes it clear.
Then she came back here a week later and still won, even though she had just raced at Ascot. She’s obviously very special and everything has gone right since that trip." He added further insight into her attributes: "She has a lot of gears and a very high cruising pace.
Ryan told me they went fast and when he started to ask her she just motor‑cleared. She’ll have no problem over seven furlongs. She’s very exciting." The Phoenix Stakes win was not the only highlight of the day at the Curragh. Big Mojo, a four‑year‑old sprinter trained by Mick Appleby, also added a victory to his résumé by taking the FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
Big Mojo had previously shown his class on the big stage, winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock and finishing a neck behind No Half Measures in the prestigious July Cup at Newmarket. Although his early season form in England had been disappointing – he finished well down the field at York, at Royal Ascot and again in the July Cup – the Irish trip proved a turning point. Under Tom Marquand, he produced a one‑and‑a‑quarter‑length win over Bucanero Fuerte, re‑establishing his reputation as a top‑class sprinter.
Appleby, who celebrated his first Irish winner, said of his charge: "We brought him here just to give him a bit more confidence. He seemed to be lacking that after the big races in England.
Now that he’s back on top I think he’ll continue to perform. He’s as good as ever, just a little more laid‑back, like me! It’s hard to win these races, but there are a lot of good sprinters out there and he’s proved he belongs among them." The day also featured a notable debut from Push The Boat Out, a 16‑to‑1 outsider in the Irish EBF Maiden at Guidenstown Stud.
Trained by Michael O'Callaghan and ridden by Colin Keane, the Kodi Bear colt displayed a natural turn of foot, accelerating sharply to secure a comfortable victory. O'Callaghan explained that the horse had always been highly regarded, though he admitted the colt had been slightly under‑cooked in his early training.
He added that the filly’s quickening ability suggested a future in stakes company and possibly a step up in distance to a mile. In the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race, Aidan O'Brien’s own Ibelieveicanfly finally broke her maiden on her fourth start. The Frankel‑by‑blood filly, who had previously finished fourth, second and fourth, was equipped with a hood for the race and responded with a dominant five‑length performance under Ryan Moore. O'Brien praised her high cruising speed, noting that she seemed to be operating in a gear that was too high for a typical maiden race, indicating a level of class that could translate to future Group races.
Later, O'Brien and Moore teamed up again in the Guidenstown Stud Irish European Breeders Fund Maiden, where they guided the 8‑15 favourite Shakespeare to a comfortable win. The Dubawi son had shown promise with placed efforts in his first two outings, and on this occasion he delivered a third‑time‑lucky victory without difficulty. O'Brien described Shakespeare as a "lovely big horse" with the potential to become anything, citing his size, power, speed and stamina as qualities that could see him develop into a top‑tier performer. Overall, the Curragh meeting provided a vivid snapshot of the depth and talent present in Irish flat racing.
From the thrilling late surge of Sun Goddess in the Phoenix Stakes to the resurgence of seasoned sprinter Big Mojo, and the promising debuts of Push The Boat Out and Ibelieveicanfly, the day underscored why the Irish racing calendar continues to attract world‑class horses, trainers and jockeys. Fans can look forward to seeing Sun Goddess stretch out to seven furlongs, Big Mojo target a return to Haydock and possibly the Breeders’ Cup, and the younger horses step up to higher‑grade contests as the season progresses. The excitement generated by these performances promises a compelling narrative for the remainder of the year, with each horse offering a unique storyline that enriches the sport’s tapestry.