Unbeaten Coventry Stakes victor, Gstaad, to challenge in Prix Morny following Saturday's skipped Curragh race appearance.
In the world of horse racing, the absence of Gstaad, a highly-regarded juvenile trained by Aidan O'Brien, from the Phoenix Stakes on August 9, 2025, has left many wondering about his future race plans.
Originally, Gstaad was expected to contest the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 24, following his promising performance at the Prix Morny in 2023. His race schedule for the rest of the year included top Group 1 races such as the G1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, the Prix Morny, the National Stakes in Ireland, and potentially the Dewhurst Stakes in October.
However, recent race results from August 9, 2025, show Gstaad as a non-runner at the Curragh on that date, suggesting that either he did not contest the Phoenix Stakes or did not race after that event in the reported recent racing periods.
Despite the lack of clear documented race outcomes after the Prix Morny 2023, Gstaad's potential remained high, with bookmakers Coral listing him as the 10-1 favourite for the Classic. His odds for upcoming races may change based on his performance and health status. Currently, he stands at 12-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas.
The Phoenix Stakes saw an upset when Power Blue, trained by Amo Racing, defeated the 1-4 favourite True Love, who finished second. True Love, originally intended for the Morny, remained in the Phoenix Stakes instead.
The outcome of the Phoenix Stakes has potential implications for future race odds and predictions. If Gstaad does not show any signs of a temperature in the next few days, he will reportedly go to Deauville for the Morny. Aidan O'Brien mentioned that sometimes, when looking at horses every day, a certain feeling can influence decisions.
As for True Love, she finished second in the Phoenix Stakes, marking a strong performance despite the unexpected outcome. Racing Post offers the best free bets for racing events, according to their website, making these future races an exciting prospect for horse racing enthusiasts.
The future of Gstaad remains uncertain, but with his impressive track record and Aidan O'Brien's ambitious race plans, racing fans eagerly await updates on his upcoming races.
In light of Gstaad's absence from the Phoenix Stakes, many question whether he will participate in the upcoming Prix Morny at Deauville instead, as he was initially expected to. Despite not competing in the Phoenix Stakes, Gstaad could still target high-profile races such as horse-racing events like the Prix Morny or the National Stakes.
