Buratino Up For Phoenix Challenge

Time/Date - 15.50hrs local time/Sunday, August 9, 2015 Racecourse/Country - The Curragh/Ireland
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Buratino goes for glory in the first Group One race of the European season for two-year-olds, the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, over six furlongs at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, August 9.

The Exceed And Excel colt, representing Mark Johnston, is after a third straight win following two impressive victories over the same trip, most recently when storming to a two-length verdict over Air Force Blue in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 16.

He posted a facile victory in the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes at Epsom Downs on June 6, when he quickened clear of his rivals to score by six lengths.

Buratino was runner-up in a five-furlong Listed contest at Sandown Park on May 28, and won a Newmarket novice event over a furlong further on May 15.

He started with two appearances over five furlongs, coming home third to Log Out Island in an Ascot conditions race on April 29 and winning a Polytrack maiden at Chelmsford City on March 28.

William Buick, who partnered Buratino at Royal Ascot, Epsom Downs and Sandown Park, rides the colt again.

Mark Johnston commented: "Buratino is ready to go and everything is perfect with him.

"It has been a bit different for him in that he had six runs in the space of two and a half months and now has hasn't run for nearly two months. His weight is spot on and I am very happy that he is fit and well.

"The prospect of yielding ground was a concern because he has never run on it but I have been assured that the ground will ride no softer than good."

Buratino lines up against seven other two-year-olds including Air Force Blue, Group Two Railway Stakes winner Painted Cliffs and Listed Windsor Castle Stakes scorer Washington DC.