In just under a week’s time the first Group 1 of the year for two-year-olds will take place at the Curragh in the shape of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes. Over the last twenty years it is a race that Aidan O’Brien has virtually made his own with 15 victories.

However, the two-year-old sprinting division is especially open this year and it was intriguing to note that a recent glance at this season’s two-year-old ratings sees Gordon Elliott’s Beckford the top rated Irish juvenile on a mark of 113.

If Beckford were to stay unbeaten in the Phoenix, which is looking entirely possible at this stage, it would be a remarkable climax to Elliott’s first season training two-year-olds.

To continue with the two-year-old theme both The Pentagon and Happily impressed with their Group 3 triumphs at Leopardstown last Thursday. The latter is among a host of standout two-year-old fillies all under the care of Aidan O’Brien while the former continues to appeal as a potentially top drawer middle distance three-year-old.

Also worth a mention is Delano Roosevelt who only got home by a neck when making a winning debut in a mile maiden at the same Leopardstown meeting. This two-year-old had a good deal more to spare than the winning margin would suggest and he could be absolutely anything.