Sun Goddess (2f Sioux Nation - Etoile Bleu, by Starspangledbanner) showed her star quality to claim Group 1 honours in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. The Ballydoyle-trained filly was narrowly beaten on debut at Naas by subsequent Listed winner Carry The Flag (by No Nay Never) and then struck by five lengths on her second outing at the Curragh later in May. Having finished second to the exciting Libertango (by No Nay Never) in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, she returned to action just eight days later when justifying favouritism in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes, again at the Curragh. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the daughter of Sioux Nation was held up in rear and began to make headway from over two furlongs out. The pair led inside the final furlong and ran on well to win by a length and a quarter. In third was Velozee (by Sioux Nation). Aidan O'Brien said: "She’s very special, we think. Before Ascot she had a foot bruise for a few days, and that can happen with a horse, but when she hit the front Ryan thought she got a little bit tired. We felt she would improve and then won on pure ability last time. "She had a good run into this, her work was beautiful. She’s such a good looking, slick filly. We were going to put the pace on today, the ground was beautiful and we were going to find out if she’s a six-furlong filly or if she’ll get seven. She’s very high quality and she’ll get seven. "She could go to the Moyglare, she could go to the Cheveley Park, she could go to America then. I think she could get a mile next year." Sun Goddess was bred by Owenstown Bloodstock.