Aidan O'Brien and another record: Sun Goddess gave him his 18th victory in the Phoenix Stakes

The daughter of Sioux Nation rallied from last to first at The Curragh to capture the flagship test for two-year-old sprinters; now she already sets her sights on the 1,400 meters

COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland—if there were any doubts about who reigns as one of the finest European fillies of the new generation, Sun Goddess set out to erase them with a dazzling display. the favorite delivered on every expectation, launching a powerful rally from dead last to capture the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1—1,200 m) at The Curragh, extending Aidan O'Brien's extraordinary dominance in a race he has now won for an 18th time.

the honor roll of the Phoenix Stakes is packed with champions forged at Ballydoyle. Johannesburg (Hennessy), George Washington (Danehill), Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill), and Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), among so many others, penned the opening chapters of memorable careers on this stage. now it was the turn of Sun Goddess, who fully validated the high regard her connections have held her in.

with stablemate Carry The Flag (No Nay Never) carving out a blistering pace from the break, Ryan Moore never panicked. while the rest of the field struggled to keep up, the daughter of Sioux Nation traveled completely relaxed at the rear of the pack, biding her time.

that moment arrived 400 meters from the wire. finding room down the inner rail, she shifted gears with effortless ease, surging from last to first in just a few strides to take command with authority, crossing the line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Folsom Blues (Blue Point) in a demonstration of overwhelming superiority.

for O'Brien, the victory confirmed that the filly's progression continues at a rapid rate: "she's a lovely filly," the trainer summarized. "she ran very well at Naas on debut, then came back here to win her maiden before heading to Royal Ascot, where, looking back with hindsight, she probably wasn't at her absolute peak."

the master trainer explained that her defeat in the Albany Stakes ultimately served as a positive learning experience: "a week later she came back to The Curragh and won a G2, despite having raced at Ascot just days earlier. that showed us she is truly special. everything has gone seamlessly since then."

O'Brien also highlighted the traits that impress him most about the daughter of the stallion who also handed him this very same feature in 2017:

"she has multiple changes of gear and a tremendous cruising speed. Ryan mentioned the tempo was very fast, but when he asked her to go, she just blew them away. he's convinced she'll have no trouble getting 1,400 meters. she's a very exciting filly."

Sun Goddess's career continues its steep upward trajectory. after scoring on debut, breaking her maiden on this very course, finishing runner-up to Libertango (No Nay Never) in the Albany Stakes (G3) at Royal Ascot, and bouncing back immediately with a G2 victory, she has now reached the pinnacle of European racing for two-year-olds.

and with O'Brien himself convinced that added distance will only unlock further potential, the immediate future holds even grander challenges for a filly already carving out her own legacy within Ballydoyle's extraordinary champion factory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHfegnqlO8