2026 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Appears to be relishing a busy schedule, shaping as if ready for the step up to this trip when a running-on second in a listed Sandown contest in late May. 

That proved the case when beaten only half a length by Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and appeared to improve again when chasing home Man's Best Friend in the Richmond Stakes last week (fine second to Inner City Blues in the July Stakes inbetween). 

Likely to bump into another good Ballydoyle runner here, though; Gimcrack assignment looks more likely.  

Second to Great Barrier Reef in the Marble Hill Stakes over C&D in May, but has had his limitations exposed since, most recently when last of seven after tearing away (in first-time cheekpieces) in the Railway Stakes won by Celeron.  

Unremarkable form when springing an 18/1 surprise over C&D on debut in early June, but proved he was better than a mid-field finish in the Windsor Castle might suggest (missed the break and never got involved from an unfavourable draw) when storming clear in the Railway here last month. 

Well placed to strike that day, and trainer already talking about a seventh furlong (holds Futurity and National Stakes options), so unlikely to really see the best of him in this scenario. 

Shaped nicely on debut when third behind Sergei Diaghilev, and no problem getting off the mark up in trip on soft ground at Gowran on his next start.  

Not ideally placed when second to Florida Bay in the Group Three Tyros Stakes on his next outing, finding himself with too much ground to make up, and hard to see him featuring too prominently over this trip on quick ground.  

Clearly been showing plenty at home, sent off 4/9 for a C&D maiden in April that he won by six lengths, and then coped well with quicker ground – despite a slower start – when picking up stablemate Carry The Flag late on in the Marble Hill. 

Deserted by Ryan Moore, but maintained his unbeaten record on quicker ground when giving his trainer a record-extending 12th win in the Coventry. 

Mixed messages from the form, a heaped finish complicating matters a little, but clearly a horse of great talent as well as great promise.  

Made a quiet start behind Tribeca at Navan in April, but showed more upped to seven furlongs on his next outing when second to Nola Soul at Leopardstown.  

Further advertised the talents of his trainer when dropped back to six furlongs and defying trouble in running to land the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, but unable to quite match that form when second to the highly-regarded Tokaido in the Prix Robert Papin since. 

This likely to be a different type of race, and could easily bounce back granted a stronger pace to chase. Respected.  

Sent off 18-1 but shaped well enough on debut behind stablemates Abraham Lincoln and Haffner in a strong maiden, and then made no mistake from the front at Naas next time out. 

Defied a marked jump in class – and some trouble in-running - just eight days later when readily picking up Adaay Of Scarlett in the Richmond last week, and no back number here if quickly asked to go again. 

A more likely candidate for the Gimcrack or Middle Park, though. 

150,000 guineas brother to the Group Three winner Shandy. Would have to be extraordinary to make a winning debut here.  

Made it third time lucky when beating Ischgl by three lengths at Listowel, but comfortably put in his place behind Great Barrier Reef and Celeron on his last two starts. Similar story likely once more. 

Ahead of King Of Cloughan when making a winning debut at Navan in late April, but no match for Orthodox when dropped in trip for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot following a two-month break. 

Again showed plenty of pace when back to form in the Railway won by Celeron, though appeared beaten fair and square on that occasion, for all he had to do his own donkey work on the near side. 

Big, strong sort who may prefer some ease in the ground to be seen to his very best.  

Well-fancied on debut in late June but failed to make much of an impression, and similar story – after a slower start – when only fourth over the same five-furlong trip at Naas 10 days later. 

No real surprise she showed improved form stepped up to seven furlongs last time (unraced dam closely related to useful 1m/1m2f winner First Winter), but hard to see this race fitting her profile now.  

More likely to run in the seven furlong fillies' race on the card.  

Twice-raced filly who was ahead of Shi Yang but firmly put in her place by Concorde Landed when second at Naas last month. 

Winner well-beaten in listed company since, and no reason to expect enough improvement for her to feature prominently here.  

Green when a dead-heating second, beaten just a head, behind stablemate Carry The Flag on debut in May and made no mistake against her own sex when surging clear of Green Empress over C&D a fortnight later. 

Fine effort from near the front when second to Libertango in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot next time out, and then resumed rivalry with Green Empress when beating her – albeit by a much narrower margin – in the Airlie Stud Stakes back over C&D when last seen in June. 

Case to be made that the Lowther and the Moyglare Stud Stakes, both against her own sex, would suit better than this assignment, but one of the leading players if pitching up here.

Impressed on her first two starts over the minimum trip and then didn't appear to quite last home when stepped up to this distance at Naas.  

Resumed her progress when beaten less than four lengths by Victorious in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, form which is working out well, but then appeared to find the petrol running on empty late on in the six-furlong Princess Margaret Stakes back there last month. 

Easy to oppose.  

Unbeaten filly who had recent Naas winner Livenka back in third when making a winning debut there in late-April, and then showed plenty of resolution to win a Group Three back there the following month. 

Rated the best winner since 2016 when landing the Queen Mary last time, her blindness in one eye proving no barrier as she came with a storming late run to foil Senorita Bonita (Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner since), with recent Molecomb winner Pershaada back in fourth. 

The Lowther at York would look a more natural next step, but worth remembering that the yard's most recent Queen Mary winner True Love went on to take on the boys in the Railway (won) and this race (second) before going back to taking on her own sex in the Cheveley Park.  

The 2024 winner Babouche became the first filly to this prize since La Collina sprang a 33-1 surprise in 2011, but Aidan O'Brien is yet to win it with one. All 17 of his wins have come courtesy of colts, and – having had subsequent 1000 Guineas winner True Love turned over at 1-4 last year – he might not wish to risk a blemish on the otherwise perfect record of Queen Mary winner Victorious. 

O'Brien's Coventry winner in 2016, Caravaggio, and 2017 Norfolk Stakes winner Sioux Nation, both went straight from Ascot to winning this race, while Gstaad was due to run in it two years ago before being off his feed.  

It seems logical that this year's Coventry hero GREAT BARRIER REEF will pitch up here, but he may need to continue his progress if he is to remain unbeaten given the mixed messages from his win. 

Having said that, he fared much the best of the of six who raced in the far group that June day, with most races on the straight mile suggesting a bias towards the near-side rail. Indeed, for all their SPs suggested they might struggle, the other five finished 12th, 15th, 18th, 20th and 21st. 

Amo Racing have done well in this race in recent years, but neither of their possible runners – Tribeca and Shi Yang – appear in the mould of Bucanero Fuerte or Power Blue, though it's worth pointing out that Tribeca has followed a similar path in terms of races. 

If there's one at price who could run well, it's King Of Cloughan. He appeared to relish the strong pace when getting up close home in the Windsor Castle, and lost little caste in defeat when unable to match Amy Murphy's exciting sprinter Tokaido in a three-runner race at Chantilly three weeks ago. 

1 GREAT BARRIER REEF. 2 KING OF CLOUGHAN. 3 TRIBECA.