Trainer Michael O’Callaghan’s superb Group Three Molecomb Stakes winner Steel Bull will be supplemented for the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
The colt will be stepping up to six furlongs for the first time in his career after winning on his debut at Naas over five furlongs and running over the same trip at Goodwood to land the Group Three spoils.
Steel Bull looked like a highly progressive horse and colt with plenty of talent when winning at Goodwood having to take a very tricky passage to finally get clear and win the race quite nicely.
His connections are now dreaming of Group One glory and really do think this horse can be special.
(Credit ATR) “I’ll see how he is, but all going well he’ll be supplemented for the Phoenix Stakes,” said O’Callaghan.
“He’s come out of Goodwood very well. He had a couple of easy days when he got home, but he was bouncing again quite quickly. He’s a horse with a great constitution and he’s a great ‘grubber'.
“We’ll be stepping up to six furlongs, but given he relaxes so well in his races and settles, I can’t see him having any problems at the trip.
👀 Interesting news regarding exciting Molecomb winner for @MDOCallaghan
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 3, 2020
He is set to be supplemented for Sunday's @keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the @curraghrace & will run in new colours
🗣 "The new owner is quite private so everyone will know who it is when we supplement." pic.twitter.com/KQGkaY9VKa
“When he won his maiden at Naas I had the Phoenix in my head straight away as he ran through the line strongly that day.”
After Colin Keane had sat on the colt and having won the Group One Phoenix Stakes with Siskin last year, he has recommended running in this event.
O’Callaghan added: "Winning the Molecomb threw a little spanner in the works as he showed such raw speed, quickening up through the gap.
“When I spoke to Colin afterwards I hadn’t mentioned the Phoenix to him, but it was the first race he said we should go for – and Colin knows what it takes to win that race.
“He’s a very exciting two-year-old, he’s unbeaten and has answered every question very well so as long as he’s OK he’ll be supplemented.
“He’ll be running in new colours, but the new owner is quite private so everyone will know who it is when we supplement.
“Most years we find a good juvenile or two and thankfully we’ve found another who is very exciting. Hopefully he can be the one who breaks my duck in a Group One.”