Racing news: Quarter Moon is odds-on for Oaks

Quarter Moon is a hot odds-on favourite to provide Aidan O'Brien with a sixth classic success of the season in Sunday's Darley…

Quarter Moon is a hot odds-on favourite to provide Aidan O'Brien with a sixth classic success of the season in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks.

The Epsom Oaks runner-up was one of 13 fillies left in the race yesterday and Paddy Power wasted no time making Quarter Moon an 8 to 11 favourite.

The French filly, Dance Routine, did not take the supplementary route and the Andre Fabre filly will instead be aimed at Deauville and the Prix Vermeille.

Five British-trained fillies remain in the race, including the top juvenile of last year, Queen's Logic. However, the Mick Channon yard reported that Queen's Logic had been declared in error.

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Instead the overseas challenge is likely to be headed by the first two home in last Saturday's Lancashire Oaks, Mellow Park and Lady's Secret.

The Ribblesdale winner, Irresistible Jewel, is, however, the second favourite for the race and is 9 to 2 to provide Dermot Weld with a third Oaks success after Dance Design (1996) and Blue Wind (1981).

Quarter Moon dominates the market, however, and is set to be joined in the race by her stable companions Starbourne and Kournakova.

The O'Brien pair of Statue Of Liberty and Hold That Tiger head the market for next year's 2,000 Guineas and they are part of the seven-strong Ballydoyle entry for Saturday's Anglesey Stakes.

Just three others have been entered for the race and initial indications suggest it will be the Coventry winner, Statue Of Liberty, that will run.

Aramram, third to Rock Of Gibraltar in the St James's Palace, heads the contenders for Saturday's Group Two Goffs International Stakes.

The going at the Curragh is currently "yielding" and little change is expected by Sunday, with the forecast described as "unsettled".

Tomorrow's scheduled Tipperary card became the latest weather victim when it was abandoned yesterday morning.

"The place is just saturated. Over the last 10 days we have had 62mms," said a disappointed manager Peter Roe.

Mick Kinane has won the Irish Oaks twice before but before his date with Quarter Moon, he will be in action at Naas this evening.

He rides the Danehill Dancer newcomer, African Sunset, in the auction maiden but inexperience could see that one lose out to the Leopardstown third, Before Dawn.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column