David Brown is looking forward to seeing Frederick Engels test his powers at Group One level in Sunday’s Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
The juvenile followed up an impressive display in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot with an equally authoritative display in the July Stakes at Newmarket.
He is due to cross the Irish Sea this weekend, but only if ground conditions are in his favour, and Brown is confident his charge will be up to the job.
“If the ground is all right, it is our intention to go,” the Yorkshire-based handler said.
“I have no reason to suspect that he wouldn’t handle soft ground but, in my experience, he’s such a good mover I’d ideally like to see him run on a bit of good ground.
“Good to firm would be better, as he’d really quicken up off that.
“I don’t think he’s too ground dependant, although it can get a bit sticky at the Curragh and I don’t think he’d like that.
“If he goes for a Group Two he’d carry a 3lb (1.5kg) penalty, so he’s got to go for the Group One.
“Johnny Murtagh will be riding him and he knows a bit about the Curragh.
“He’s keen to ride him again.”
Frederick Engels has plenty of options for the remainder of the campaign having been given entries in all of the top two-year-old races.
Should the ground go against him this weekend, Brown has alternatives in mind.
“There is the Phoenix or the Prix Morny and if the ground is not right then there is the race at York (Gimcrack Stakes),” Brown told At The Races.
“Then we have the back-end targets of the Middle Park or the Dewhurst.”
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