by Mike Curry

The Group 1 victories continue to pile up for Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien, who notched his 15th victory at the highest level when Mastercraftsman delivered a dominant 4 1/2-length victory in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (Ire-G1) on Sunday at the Curragh.

O’Brien, who won the Phoenix for the ninth time, set the world record of 23 Group 1 wins in 2001, which was surpassed in 2003 when Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel recorded 25 Grade 1 victories.

Unlike Saturday when O’Brien’s charge Duke of Marmalade battled back when headed in the stretch to win the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1) at Ascot, the Phoenix Stakes featured little drama as Mastercraftsman demolished four challengers.

Stablemate Sea of Marmara set the pace in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes while Mastercraftsman tracked in second under Johnny Murtagh. Mastercraftsman surged past Sea of Marmara approaching the final furlong and powered well clear to improve to three wins in as many starts.

“We wanted to make it a true test as he wants seven furlongs really. He worked really well in the week and we knew he had made the progression needed for a race like this,” Murtagh told Racing Post.

The Danehill Dancer colt completed six furlongs on good to firm turf in 1:13.30 as the 4-to-1 third choice in the five-horse field.

Even-money favorite Art Connoisseur, winner of the Coventry Stakes (Eng-G2) on June 17 at Royal Ascot, finished a distant second and 2-to-1 second choice Bushranger finished another half-length back in third.

A half brother to Grade 3 winner Genuine Devotion (Ire), Mastercraftsman entered the Phoenix Stakes off a win in the One 51 Railway Stakes (Ire-G2) on June 29 at the Curragh. He is out of the winning Black Tie Affair (Ire) mare Starlight Dreams.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor