Ebro River Lands Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh

From jetting across the Atlantic for one ride at Saratoga Race Course to winning his sixth group 1 in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes—all in half a day's work for Shane Foley.

The American adventure didn't go according to plan as Cadillac  trailed in ninth of 11 in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T), but there is just no place like home as a few hours later Foley was helping himself to a hat-trick at the Curragh, completed by the tough and tenacious Ebro River . 

When asked whether he managed to get any sleep on the flight back, Foley replied: "I slept a bit on the way home all right, but I don't know whether I'll sleep tonight."

Foley was certainly wide awake as the stalls opened for the first juvenile group 1 of the season as Ebro River was soon in front on the near-side rail and dictating matters, something he had never done on any of his previous six starts.

This was a different Ebro River to the one we used to know as he bravely fought off the 1-2-4 from the GAIN Railway Stakes (G2) at the track back in June to earn himself a quote of 20-1 for next year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) with Paddy Power. The same firm cut him to 7-1 (from 12) for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (G2).

The Phoenix Stakes usually stays at home, thanks in no small part to Aidan O'Brien, who has won it 16 times, and Advertise  in 2018 was the only British-based winner since Princely Heir  for Mark Johnston and Jason Weaver in 1997. It was a bold move by Hugo Palmer to come to the Curragh.

"I had my head between my legs coming back last night. Cadillac was very disappointing and it was a long haul home after it. But, I'm after having three rides so far today and all of them have won; and I've won a group 1 which is brilliant," Foley said after registering back-to-back wins in the race following Lucky Vega  last year. "I got in at 8 a.m. I flew with Ryan (Moore) and was able to jump on the private plane down in Boston so a big thanks to the Magniers and everyone. I wouldn't have got home otherwise."

"We just said beforehand we wouldn't mind changing the tactics a bit," Foley said on the drastic change of tactics. "We'd been dropping him in but there didn't look to be much pace today and with that tailwind it can be hard to get them back up front.

"He'd been doing things wrong. He'd been keen and quite awkward. Hugo had in his head he wanted to go forward today and it was an ideal day to do it. He had the draw for it. I had a willing partner and he kept pulling out more. I'd say I would have still been in front after another half-furlong."

Certainly the further Ebro River went the better he looked. Dr Zempf  did best of the rest but was three-quarters of a length down at the line, with the 6-4 favorite Go Bears Go  third and Castle Star  fourth.

It was fitting Ebro River should provide Palmer with his fifth group 1 winner, and his second in Ireland following on from Covert Love 's 2015 Darley Irish Oaks (G1) success, given he is a son of Galileo Gold , a flagbearer for the trainer and Al Shaqab Racing in 2016 when he won the Two Thousand Guineas.

Ebro River was Galileo Gold's first winner, taking a novice stakes at Doncaster in May and he is now his first group 1 winner too.

"Hugo fancied the horse," said Foley. "He had a good run in the Coventry (G2) and his form was there for all to see. He's tough and he's genuine."

Tough and genuine indeed. And, when you combine that with class you have got yourself a classic contender. Ebro River is flowing smoothly now.