Having made a winning reappearance in the Listed Prix Kistena at Deauville last month, the unbeaten Earthlight returns to the track in a bid to add the Prix de Maurice de Gheest to his record today.
The son of Shamardal will face 11 rivals in the 6½f contest including this year’s Commonwealth Cup hero Golden Horde, who Earthlight got the better of by a neck when they clashed in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last September.
He will also have to fend off opposition from Space Blues, who also carries the Godolphin Blue but is trained by Charlie Appleby. The four-year-old son of Dubawi was last seen taking the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
Appleby will also saddle Royal Crusade in the race while Aidan O’Brien will be represented by Lope Y Fernandez and Wichita.
The field is completed by the Kevin Ryan-trained Hello Youmzain, Roncey, Batwan, Spinning Memories, Wooded and Reshabar.
Steel Bull and The Lir Jet to clash at the Curragh
Exciting juveniles Steel Bull and The Lir Jet will go up against each other in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh today.
Steel Bull enhanced his reputation just last week when winning the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and will be making his first start for new owner Chantal Regaladdo-Gonzalez, who purchased the son of Clodovil in a private deal.
The Lir Jet comes into this race off the back of being beaten by fellow Phoenix Stakes contender, the Richard Hannon-trained Ventura Tormenta, in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly last month.
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for Admiral Nelson, Giorgio Vasari and St Mark’s Basilica while Fozzy Stack will be represented by Aloha Star and Bubbles On Ice. The field is completed by Laws Of Indices and Lucky Vega.
Rest of today’s action
There are also Flat meetings from Salisbury, Thirsk and Windsor today while Downpatrick stages a jumps card.
