O'Brien Stablemates Gstaad, True Love Clash in Phoenix

It's a typically small field for the Phoenix Stakes (G1) Aug. 9 at Curragh— just two renewals since 2017 have had eight or more runners—but the race rarely lacks intrigue, and this year is no different. Royal Ascot winners and Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemates Gstaad (GB) and True Love (IRE) could go head-to-head, but another type of intrigue emerged on Friday afternoon when the trainer reported the former to be "a bit quiet in himself after his final piece of work this morning". "He's been trained all along for this race, and everything had gone perfectly," O'Brien said. "We'll be keeping a close eye on him, and I wouldn't want to risk him if I didn't think he was 100%." If Gstaad eats up and is firing on all cylinders, the battle of the sexes will be a tantalizing prospect in a Phoenix that would serve as round two after the pair met in a six-furlong maiden at Navan in May. It was the apparent second string Gstaad who prevailed then, beating his better fancied stablemate, who went off at 2-5, by three-quarters of a length. True Love's price that day was based on the promise of her second place on her debut, when she split the smart Lady Iman and the reopposing Power Blue (IRE) in listed company at this track. Gstaad easily won the Coventry Stakes (G2), but there's little doubt True Love has stepped forward since, and the No Nay Never filly justified 9-4 favoritism when dropped to the minimum trip for the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. The race didn't pan out ideally for her. She led the near-side group, and all of those around her began to drop away at the quarter pole, resulting in True Love having to race on her own at a vital stage of the race, when the other groups were ahead. However, as soon as Ryan Moore angled her to race alongside Zelaina in the center, she began to blast home and ultimately scored by a length and a quarter. True Love showed an excellent attitude there and followed up in the same grade in the Railway Stakes (G2) last time. Backed up to six furlongs, she became the first filly to land the race in 31 years when storming five lengths clear of stablemate Puerto Rico (IRE), who re-opposes. If Gstaad is not fit to run, Moore will replace Wayne Lordan on True Love, and she would become the one to beat. Ballydoyle wouldn't want a searching gallop given how effective she is over five furlongs, and Puerto Rico would likely be allowed to stride on with no pressure. In such circumstances, True Love would probably have a gear change in the final couple of furlongs that her rivals can't match. Green Sense looks the biggest danger. After landing her maiden impressively over course and distance in April, she finished second to Lady Iman at Naas. She was well fancied for the Albany but didn't fire, perhaps the quick ground scuppering her chance, and she got back on track on an easier surface when staying on strongly to land the Prix Robert Papin (G2) at Chantilly last time. The ground will be on the fast side here, but it won't be as quick as it was at Ascot, so she should be fine on it and she looks well worth this shot at a group 1. "We've been happy with her since her win in the Papin," trainer Joseph O'Brien said of Green Sense. "She's a group 2 winner, and it would be great to get some group 1 black type. "The course and distance should suit her well, and she won her maiden over it. We're hoping for a good run."