Phoenix Thoroughbreds are to expand their string in Ireland having announced Joseph O’Brien will train their latest Arqana Breeze Up purchase.
The Melbourne Cup winning trainer already has a two-year-old Invincible Spirit colt owned by the innovative investment fund in his stable and will now take charge of the career of their newest addition.
In a day that saw the sale topper go for 1.1million euros the top bloodstock team for the Dubai based operation will be hoping they have secured a relative bargain with the hammer falling in their favour at 240,000 for Lot 54. A son of Coolmore’s Starspangledbanner he is out of Belesta making him a half-brother to Old Glory, who was sold at Goffs in 2017 for 1.6million Euros before landing black-type prize money. The two-year-old’s other half-siblings have both tasted victory at Group level while you don’t have to dig too far into his pedigree to uncover Group One winners With You, We Are and Call The Wind.
Having tasted success in the UAE the hierarchy at ‘PLS’ have long spoken about their ambitions of trying their luck in other countries and this development is further evidence of their determination to build on their past glories. Burke already trains a quartet of runners for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and will now be among the first trainers to send out UK based runners in the Ladies’ silks.
That horse, Lot 34, is an Acclamation filly out of Wild Academy. Those bloodlines tie in closely with Group One winner, and Dubai World Cup placed Bullish Luck and prolific Graded success story Slim Shady. Further Group One winning relatives are found on nearby branches of this family tree with Juvenia and Trillion having tasted success at the highest level.