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Toscanini back at the Curragh for Phoenix Sprint

Time/Date - 16.05hrs local time/Sunday, August 7, 2016
Racecourse/Country - The Curragh/Ireland
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Toscanini makes his second appearance in the G3 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, August 7.

The four-year-old, trained by Michael Halford, went down by a short-head to Mattmu in the six-furlong contest 12 months ago.

In eight appearances at the Curragh, Toscanini has won or been placed six times, most recently when third over seven furlongs in the G2 Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes on July 17.

The son of Shamardal was the game winner of the six-furlong Listed Dubai Duty Free Jumeirah Creekside Dash Stakes, run over the same course and distance as the Phoenix Sprint Stakes, on June 25 and finished runner-up in the seven-furlong G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September, 2014.

Michael Halford commented: "Toscanini has been training well and six furlongs is probably his best trip. The ground is good to firm at the moment, which will also be ideal for him.

"The seven furlongs last time may have stretched him a bit. He will probably get that trip on a turning track but it is quite hard at the Curragh, especially when you are near the front the whole way.

"It looks a good race on Sunday but Toscanini is very consistent and has a great record at the Curragh."

Toscanini, drawn in stall two and with James Doyle up, opposes six rivals including last year's European champion juvenile Air Force Blue, recent Naas Listed winner Fort Del Oro and G3 victor Eastern Impact.