Trainer Aidan O’Brien was not lucky enough to achieve his twelfth victory in the Phoenix Stakes
The famous Irish Group 1 flat horse race, known as the Phoenix Stakes, is held at Curragh Racecourse Co. Kildare, in Ireland. The race is scheduled to be held every year in the month of July or August.
This thoroughbred race is run over a distance of 6 furlongs, 1,207 meters, while in the past it used to be 5 furlongs' long. The Phoenix Stakes, which is sponsored by Keeneland, allows only two-year-old fillies or colts to participate.
In 1991, the event was held in Leopardstown since the racecourse in Phoenix Park was shut down. Later in 2002, the event moved to Curragh, which is still the current venue of the Phoenix Stakes.
Earlier, the historical race was known as the Phoenix Plate and it took place at the Phoenix Park, but later on the name changed to Phoenix Stakes.
When the grading system of the race was introduced, it was at the level of Group 2, until later in 1979, the level was extended to Group 1.
Last year’s winner of the Stakes race was Zoffany under jockey, Murtagh.
The three-year-old bay colt was trained by Aidan O'Brien for owner Michael Tabor, and covered the distance in 1 minute and 11.29 seconds to claim the Phoenix Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien has an amazing profile with regard to the Phoenix Stakes. He has won many races in the past few years, but this time, in 2011, the renowned trainer was not lucky enough to achieve the big reward.
Aidan O' Brien's Power, a two-year-old bay colt, was not able to compete with his contender, the Irish chestnut filly, La Collina, who won the 2011 event in an extravagant manner .
Trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by D P McDonogh, La Collina gave a marvelous hit and won the massive purse.
In 1998, Aidan O'Brien had his first victory in the Phoenix Stakes with Lavery, under jockey, Walter Swinburn.
Since 2011, the great trainer has a total of eleven victories in the Phoenix Stakes and his training has helped many stallions taste the flavor of success of the much acclaimed Phoenix Stakes.
The second success achieved by Aidan O'Brien was in 1999, with Fasliyev, under jockey, Michael Kinane, for owners, Tabor and Magnier. The stallion covered the distance in 1 minute and 17.10 seconds.
From 1998 to 2003, Aidan O'Brien trained horses won the Phoenix Stakes consecutively, but the chain of success was broken, when Damson, under jockey, Kieren Fallon, won the race with trainer, David Wachman, in 2004.
Aidan O'Brien’s Minardi and Johannesburg, under jockey Michael Kinane were the winners of the Phoenix Stakes in the year 2000 and 2001, respectively.
In 2002, owners, Magnier’s and Tabor’s, Spartacus won the race under Colm O’Donoghue by covering the distance in 1 minute and 15.10 seconds. This was Aidan O’Brien’s fifth victory.
Storm Cat’s son out of Tacha One, Cool Cat, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was the 2003 Phoenix Stakes' winner, ridden by Michael Kinane, finishing in 1 minute and 11.40 seconds.
Aidan's George Washington and Holy Roman Emperor, under jockey, Kieren Fallon, won the race in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
After a one year gap, when the victory was in the hands of trainer, Jim Bloger, Aidan again came into form and gained three consecutive victories from 2008 till last year, in 2010. The stallions won the purse under the same jockey, Johnny Murtagh.
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