Caravaggio rises to occasion in Phoenix

Caravaggio oozed class as he romped to an impressive, four lengths win in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

The 1/8 favourite gave Adan O’Brien a fifteenth success in this prestigious event and provided the centrepiece of a memorable two-year-old treble for Aidan O’Brien and Seamus Heffernan, deputising for the injured Ryan Moore, on a day when last year’s champion two-year-old Air Force Blue flopped, again, in the Phoenix Sprint, the only blip on an otherwise successful day for Ballydoyle.

Confidently handled by Heffernan as Michael Hussey made the running on 33/1 stable-companion Courage Under Fire, Caravaggio cruised past second favourite Medicine Jack and alongside the leader with two furlongs to race. Soon in front, he stretched clear in great style when squeezed by Heffernan to win in the style of a very smart colt.