RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:AIDAN O'BRIEN might be chasing a piece of Irish racing history in this Sunday's Keeneland Phoenix Stakes but the Curragh focus is still set to be on the ante-post 2,000 Guineas favourite Strong Suit in Europe's first Group One juvenile prize of 2010.

The all-conquering Richard Hannon team have indicated that Strong Suit, who overcame terrible trouble in running to preserve his unbeaten record in the Coventry Stakes, is on course for the €200,000 Phoenix, a race that O’Brien has dominated in recent seasons.

Alfred Nobel was Ballydoyle’s 10th winner of the six-furlong feature in last year’s race in a remarkable stretch that goes back to O’Brien’s first Phoenix winner, Lavery in 1998.

O’Brien is currently tied for the race record with the legendary Paddy “Darkie” Prendergast.

Strong Suit is a general 6 to 1 favourite for next year’s Guineas and George Washington won the 2005 Phoenix en route to landing the following year’s Newmarket classic.

The complexion of the home defence will be clearer after tomorrow’s five-day forfeit stage but possible starters remain O’Brien’s exciting prospect Zoffany as well as Dunboyne Express, who landed the Anglesey by eight lengths over the Phoenix course and distance last month.

Kevin Prendergast’s unbeaten two-year-old is a 20 to 1 shot for the 2011 Guineas.

There will be encouragement for Irish hopes in the statistic that no cross-channel based horse has won the Phoenix Stakes since Mark Johnston’s Princely Heir in 1997.

Sunday’s Curragh card is also set to feature the reappearance of Fame And Glory in the Group Two Royal Whip Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s 2009 Irish Derby winner has won both the Coronation Cup and the Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier this year and is rated the biggest threat by bookmakers to the spectacular King George winner Harbinger for October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

O’Brien used the Royal Whip as a comeback for another Irish Derby hero, High Chaparral, in the 2003 Royal Whip before that horse went on to land the Irish Champion Stakes.

The champion trainer’s first runner in America this year, Steinbeck, failed to make any show in Saturday night’s Grade Two Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga when beating only two home in the 10 runner contest on dirt.

Top United States jockey Garret Gomez rode the Irish hope but they failed in their bid to threaten the impressive winner, A Little Warm.