Attacking the Darley Irish Oaks in force has worked well for Aidan O'Brien in the past and the champion trainer is putting the ammunition in place for a similar assault on this Saturday evening's €400,000 Curragh classic.
Diamondsandrubies, who is the ante-post Oaks favourite after her Pretty Polly victory two-and-a-half weeks ago, is a notable absentee from the 16 fillies left in the race after the latest forfeit stage but nevertheless O’Brien still has seven entries to choose from, including the 50-1 Epsom Oaks heroine Qualify.
Coolmore’s hand for the fourth classic of 2015 is further strengthened by David Wachman’s rapidly progressing Ribblesdale Stakes winner Curvy, supplemented into the race for €40,000, and installed as a new 5-2 favourite in some lists.
O’Brien’s potential team includes another proven Group One winner in the Dubai Fillies Mile victor, Together Forever, while the unbeaten Words boasts an ideal Irish Oaks pedigree, being a daughter of the 2008 heroine Moonstone.
Moonstone, the third of the trainer’s four Curragh Oaks winners, was one of half a dozen Ballydoyle starters in that classic renewal, while a year ago Bracelet was one of five O’Brien runners in the race. He also saddled five in the 2010 contest won by Snow Fairy, the last to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double.
“It will all depend on how they are working and what way the ground will be – there is a bit of rain hanging around,” O’Brien said.
“A mile and a half should suit Together Forever well. Qualify is a possible depending on ground and work and Words is a filly that has had only two runs. She won her Group Three at Cork nicely.”
Emulate
Qualify has the chance to emulate Snow Fairy’s achievement, while Jim Bolger’s Pleascach, winner of the 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May, is also set to try to double her classic tally.
A total of four cross-channel-trained fillies remain in contention, with Hugo Palmer’s Covert Love also supplemented into the race for €40,000.
Gretchen, fifth to Curvy in the Ribblesdale, is likely to try to provide John Gosden with a second Irish Oaks after Great Heavens three years ago.
Jack Naylor ran sixth to Qualify in the Epsom Oaks but remains on course to try to provide her trainer Jessica Harrington with a first classic success.
Ground conditions at the Curragh are currently “good”, although some rain is forecast for tomorrow ahead of a prestigious weekend of action that will also include Sunday’s Group Two Kilboy Estate Stakes.
Michael Stoute has elected to skip the Oaks with the highly rated Crystal Zevzda but the legendary Newmarket trainer could pursue a third Kilboy success in a row with Bragging.
Stoute won back to back renewals of the nine-furlong highlight with Dank (2013) and Mango Diva last year.
Four of O'Brien's Oaks entries, including Words, also remain in the Kilboy, although one of them, On A Pedestal, is scheduled to run in a handicap at Killarney this evening.
Most bases
Harrington’s handful of Killarney runners this evening cover most bases with two going over hurdles, a couple on the flat and a bumper representative too.
Modem hasn’t run since Cheltenham’s County Hurdle but has dropped a few pounds in flat ratings and could be a leading player in the two-mile handicap. He looked to progress over flights last winter including when finding only Katie T too good in the valuable Boylesports Hurdle.
Blue Owen is the Harrington hope in the finale, a race where Knocknanuss would be a popular winner for Co Cork trainer Mick Winters.
The Tommy Stack team always like a winner in Kerry and Duke Cass takes a significant hike in trip for the opening maiden.
Kevin Manning is in Turkey today representing Ireland in an International Jockeys Challenge at the Veliefendi racecourse in Istanbul. The Derby-winning rider is joined in an international line up by Richard Hughes representing Britain and Johnny Velezaquez the USA. Also involved are Pierre Charles Boudot (France) and Mirco Demuro (Italy.)
