NEWS
Minardi streaks home in Phoenix
Posted: Monday, August 14, 2000
Michael Tabor's Minardi appeared to be something special when streaking home to take the $118,811 first prize in the $188,839 Phoenix Stakes (Ire-G1) at Leopardstown on Sunday. Jockey Michael Kinane switched to Minardi when his intended mount, Freud, went lame and was withdrawn, and he never had an anxious moment.
After Minardi's stablemate Cashel Palace set a strong early pace, Kinane asked his mount to accelerate just before the furlong pole, and the 7-to-2 shot settled the issue immediately. American-owned Superstar Leo was beaten five lengths into second place, with Dora Carrington, the 3-to-1 favorite, another three-quarters of a length away in third.
By Boundary out of Yarn, by Mr. Prospector, Minardi was purchased for $1.65-million by agent Demi O'Byrne at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale. The winner ran six furlongs in 1:12.20 on good ground.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, gaining his third successive victory in the race, will probably step the colt up a furlong for the Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on October 14.—Alan Smith
