Tag Archive for: Irish Oaks

Monday Musings: Of Cups and Plates

/in /by

The joys of shared ownership were never better exemplified than on Saturday, with big wins on both the flat and in the most valuable race of the summer jumping season, writes Tony Stafford.

Suppose you owned a highly respected stud farm and stood three stallions, one of which, Nathaniel, is long-standing and good enough to have produced a mare of the calibre of world champion Enable, you would always be on the lookout for anything you thought capable of coming some way towards that sort of racecourse brilliance.

Step forward Graham Smith-Bernal, boss since May 2021 of former German-owned Newsells Park Stud. Nathaniel, a son of Galileo, has over the past couple of years been joined by smart mile performer Without Parole and top sprinter (five times Group winner) A’Ali.

Trained by John Gosden, Nathaniel began life in that famed juvenile maiden at an evening meeting at Newmarket, finishing a gallant runner-up to Sir Henry Cecil’s career-saving Frankel, also making his debut. Frankel’s famed 14-race unbeaten record entitles him to be regarding as maybe the best-ever flat racer.

Nathaniel was no slouch either, winning the King George at Ascot as a three-year-old, the Coral-Eclipse the following year, and edged out by a nose by Danedream in his follow-up King George attempt. He bowed out with a third to old adversary Frankel in the 2012 Champion Stakes, finishing their careers in the same race, too.

Four lengths was the margin this time, the brilliant French gelding Cirrus Des Aigles intervening. Frankel has lived up to his racecourse form at stud and stands for the Juddmonte operation for £350k. You might say that Nathaniel, if he can produce another Enable, is outstanding value at one-twentieth the Frankel figure at £17,500.

So here goes. There was a first-time Nathaniel filly in a Kempton 2yo maiden at the tail end of last year, running for the emerging Valmont operation and trained by Ralph Beckett. A £200k Tattersalls Book 1 yearling, You Got To Me started her debut race slowly, but soon made smooth headway to track the leaders on the outside. That effortless speed was what most impressed the Newsells team.

Then, having got to the lead inside the last furlong and a half, she showed resolution to win quite nicely at the finish, coming out best of four in a line 100 yards out, staying on well as you would expect a Nathaniel to do. Graham made contact as to whether she might be for sale. “Luckily, Valmont are traders. I offered £200,000, for a half-share. They replied “£300k.” We settled on £250k.” Some deal I think.”, he said.

The partnership began with a win in the Lingfield Oaks Trial (or rather the Ralph Beckett benefit), followed by fourth in the Oaks and again fourth in the Ribblesdale, where she was very free, going into a near ten-length lead at Swinley Bottom. Once headed, she battled on more resolutely than could have been expected in the circumstances, for a close fourth.

Beckett decided to fit a first-time tongue-tie on Saturday in the Irish Oaks, to curb that enthusiasm, and it worked perfectly. The result? A measured performance where Hector Crouch managed to keep in Ryan Moore on the Coolmore favourite Concede just behind him in the home straight, and You Got To Me went on to win by a comfortable one and a half lengths, again showing that strong finish.

It probably helped the team that Moore didn’t get as smooth a passage as the winner and it will be interesting to see whether the result will be replicated on a further meeting.

Another Enable? Who knows, but You Got To Me is going the right way, stays well as do all the Nathaniels, but with that extra instant speed ingredient that most horses don’t possess. Instead of the boss being there to enjoy the win first-hand, it was deputed that racing and nominations manager Gary Coffey should represent the Newsells half of the team at the Curragh, a proud moment for the Irishman. “It was a great day for us, almost up there with when another partnership horse, Waldgeist, won the Arc the year after Enable’s second win in the race.”

Smith-Bernal, kept on home soil worrying about the health of the family dog, instead hosted 16 members and friends of a (sadly unplaced) Charlie Johnston-trained runner at Newmarket’s oddly-timed fixture. They had no luck, but a beaming Smith-Bernal made sure the champagne kept flowing. It was almost better to be celebrating in the owners’ dining room at Newmarket, able to whoop with delight as she passed the post. We happened to leave the course at the same time, he and wife Marcella holding hands, he with that massive grin still on his face.

The Newsells model is different from many others. They have around fifty mares of their own and another fifty or so for clients as well as a similar number of boarders. Their own colts and fillies are all available for sale. Newsells fixes a value and if they are unsold at the sale, often partnerships are negotiated with the stud retaining an interest for racing.

It wasn’t all gloom for Coolmore and especially Ryan Moore. He rode the most audaciously patient ride on the much-improved four-year-old Tower Of London in the one mile, six furlong Group 1 Curragh Cup.

The three-year-old and fellow Galileo horse Grosvenor Square set the pace in a race where top-class dual-purpose performer Vauban and Tower Of London dominated the market. Also, in the O’Brien stable, he set up a 20-length lead and was still at least eight ahead coming to the final furlong. Meanwhile, a long way behind Grosvenor Square, Tower Of London was easing past Valmont and swiftly made up the ground. He won with his head in his chest. Wow, such mastery of his trade!

There was a future potential opponent for You Got To Me and Concede in the Hughie Morrison-trained four-year-old Mistral Star, on show later on the Newmarket card. Mistral Star took on a sizeable field in a ten-furlong Listed race and smoothly raced away from them. The homebred will be pushed quite close to a 110 rating after this and Morrison knows just how to bring the Helena Springfield fillies to their optimum potential. She looks sure to stay further on this evidence.

Now to, for me, the happiest Saturday result of all. On Thursday I sat in a Gaucho restaurant in London’s West End, while this publication’s editor showed us three a recent video of the Geegeez.co.uk chaser Sure Touch in a schooling session before taking up his Saturday target in the centenary Summer Plate Chase at Market Rasen.

I had to agree with Matt that it was “sensational”, especially for a horse with only five previous chases on his card for Olly Murphy. As he was winning the big race, attended by my York races landlord Jim Cannon and a couple of my fellow guests, all of whom are in this syndicate, I’d forgotten all about it.

Contacting Matt later in the afternoon, the drinks had already been flowing. I don’t suppose any of the numerous errors that no doubt will be sprinkled within this offering will be picked up, so I better check again. [They have been 😉  - Ed.]

Then yesterday, the team were on the mark at Newton Abbot with the 4/1 favourite Konigin Isabella, trained by Anthony Honeyball. Rumours that Jim paid for the helicopter to take the team from Lincolnshire to Devon are apparently untrue.

The moral of this epistle is clear. If you have a couple of hundred grand or so, scour the autumn maiden juvenile races for potential. If you want to join a syndicate, have a look at Geegeez.co.uk. Other syndicates and agents – some of whom we often mention here – are available.

- TS

 



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Willie Mullins out to emulate father Paddy in Irish Oaks with Lope De Lilas

/in /by

Lope De Lilas will look to break new ground for Willie Mullins in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks on Saturday.

Having carried all before him over jumps on both sides of the Irish Sea, the Closutton handler is out to secure only his second Classic victory at the Curragh after Wicklow Brave’s triumph in the Irish St Leger eight years ago under Frankie Dettori.

What would make victory all the more special for Mullins this weekend is the fact that his late father Paddy saddled the Dettori-ridden Vintage Tipple to win the Irish Oaks 21 years ago.

Frankie Dettori winning the 2003 Irish Oaks aboard Vintage Tipple
Frankie Dettori winning the 2003 Irish Oaks aboard Vintage Tipple (Hadyn West/PA)

Mullins’ son and assistant, Patrick, said: “It would mean a huge amount to Willie if he could emulate his father in winning an Irish Oaks and it would be up there with the top of his achievements.

“I vividly remember Vintage Tipple winning, I was actually at a hunter trial in Stradbally and I was listening to it on the radio with my cousin, Emmet.

“James Doyle came over to ride her (Lope De Lilas) work at the Curragh on Tuesday and she worked very well and everyone was very happy.

“It’s a big ask but we are very happy going there, so fingers and toes crossed.”

After dominating rivals when breaking her duck at Leopardstown in May sporting the colours of the trainer’s wife Jackie, Lope De Lilas was snapped up by the Qatari-based Wathnan Racing team.

Mullins junior admits the daughter of Lope De Vega faces a huge rise in class on Saturday, but feels it is worth rolling the dice.

He added: “It is obviously a big ask coming straight out of maiden company into a Group One Classic, but that is the route we have decided to take.

“She’s had a fantastic preparation at home. Port Fairy is a Royal Ascot winner and she sets the standard but it is hugely exciting to be involved in a Classic.”

Victory for Lope De Lilas would not only give Mullins a first Classic triumph, but it would also be a first for Wathnan.

James Doyle will ride Lope De Lilas in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks
James Doyle will ride Lope De Lilas in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (David Davies/PA)

Their retained rider Doyle has been astute in his preparation as he seeks to add a second Irish Oaks to his CV and connections are thrilled to be linking up with one of the dominant forces in Irish racing.

“James has been over twice, he rode her in a piece of work on Tuesday and also after racing on Irish Derby day,” said Wathnan’s European racing adviser Richard Brown.

“He has been very happy with her and so has Willie. It’s obviously a big step up making just her third start and in a Classic. I’m sure she has a bright future, but whether she is going to be streetwise or not on Saturday, we will find out.

“Willie does exceptionally well with the runners he does have on the Flat and is obviously a world-class trainer, so it is exciting to be doing this with Willie.”

Port Fairy (left) beats Lava Stream in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot
Port Fairy (left) beats Lava Stream in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

One man who is no stranger to Irish Oaks success is, of course, Aidan O’Brien, who has claimed victory on a record seven occasions.

Ryan Moore steered Port Fairy to win the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, but has this weekend instead elected to ride her stablemate Content following her creditable third place finish against her elders in the Pretty Polly Stakes three weeks ago.

“Ryan loved the filly he rode in Ascot and obviously had to think about riding the other filly, but the other filly’s run in the Pretty Polly was exceptional,” said O’Brien.

“We weren’t sure what was going to happen, with those Galileo fillies when they go up in trip things can happen like that sometimes.

“Ryan said she absolutely flew through the line. He said she relaxed well and he’d have been very comfortable going further with her. He was very impressed with her that day.

“I’d imagine he’ll ride her the same way, take his time and see what will happen.

“She has lots of class, we weren’t sure about the mile and a quarter but she got it well and it looks like she’ll get further.

“Port Fairy is very genuine and straightforward. She’s been in good shape since Ascot.

“She got the trip well in Ascot and she’s a lovely filly as well. We were delighted with her in Ascot and she’s come forward every week since.

“I wouldn’t think any of them would want soft ground. They are two good moving fillies. I’d imagine the better the ground it would suit both. Soft ground wouldn’t be a plus for any of them.”

British hopes are carried by David O’Meara’s Ribblesdale runner-up Lava Stream, supplemented earlier this week at a cost of €50,000, and David Menuisier’s Epsom Oaks third War Chimes.

Menuisier said: “She’s in good shape, we’ve had bags of time since her last race and she seems A1, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

“I think she got the trip well at Epsom and I think she’s better right-handed as well. It will be interesting to see how she copes with the circumstances.

“It looks an open race and we have as much of a chance as everybody else.”

Hanalia (red cap) in action at the Curragh last season
Hanalia (red cap) in action at the Curragh last season (Healy Racing/PA)

Another filly added to the field at Tuesday’s supplementary stage was Johnny Murtagh’s Naas Oaks Trial winner Hanalia.

The Sea The Stars filly will look to play the role of super-sub for owner-breeder the Aga Khan after his Epsom Oaks heroine Ezeliya had to be retired earlier in the month after suffering a setback.

Pat Downes, manager of the Aga Khan’s Irish studs, said: “Johnny has been very pleased with Hanalia since she won the Oaks trial at Naas and unfortunately she wasn’t in the Irish Oaks, so we had a discussion about it and he was keen (to supplement her).

“He feels she has made a nice step forward from that win at Naas. We would have a question mark over the trip, but we hope that she will get it and if she does, we would expect her to run a nice race.

“We did think Ezeliya would be lining up, but unfortunately that went out the window a couple of weeks ago. That’s racing.

“I think it looks a competitive race, so hopefully Hanalia is in the mix there somewhere.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Lava Stream supplemented for Irish Oaks challenge

/in /by

Royal Ascot runner-up Lava Stream has been supplemented for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday, as has course winner Hanalia.

The David O’Meara-trained Lava Stream was rated just 74 at the start of the season, but has since struck gold in handicap company at Doncaster and in a Listed race at Goodwood before performing above expectations when beaten a neck by Port Fairy in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

She has been added to the Irish Oaks field at a cost of €50,000, and owners Elwick Stud are excited to be heading to the Curragh with a “fighting chance” of claiming Classic glory.

“We just thought with the Ribblesdale form being so strong and the winner of the Ribblesdale being favourite for the Irish Oaks, we may as well take our chance,” said stud manager Gary Moore.

“The form is there, that’s the reason why we’re going. There’s only a couple of Oaks you want to win, this is one of them and you’re able to take on three-year-olds rather than waiting to take on older fillies in the Yorkshire Oaks next time.

“She goes on any ground – the ground won’t bother at all. Even if she gets placed it would be amazing – for the stud, for David, for everyone.

“We’re hoping that we’re going over there with a fighting chance.”

Owned by the Aga Khan, Hanalia has won two of her three starts for Johnny Murtagh – losing her maiden tag at the Curragh in May – and is set to step up to a mile and a half for the first time after winning the Naas Oaks Trial over an extended 10 furlongs last month.

Purple Lily looks a lively outsider for Paddy Twomey
Purple Lily looks a lively outsider for Paddy Twomey (Niall Carson/PA)

Paddy Power make Port Fairy their 11-4 favourite to provide Aidan O’Brien with an eighth win in the Curragh Classic, with the Willie Mullins-trained Lope De Lilas next in the betting at 9-2 as she prepares to carry the Wathnan Racing colours for the first time.

Lava Stream is 8-1 with the same firm, with Hanalia at 14-1, while Paddy Twomey is looking forward to saddling 25-1 shot Purple Lily, who was last seen finishing fifth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

He said: “Purple Lily has been trained very much with the Irish Oaks in mind and we’re looking forward to Saturday with her.

“It’s a step into the unknown (over a mile and a half), but her overall form is very good and the filly she ran against over a mile and a quarter (Ezeliya) ended up the top of generation in Epsom.

“I think there’s every chance she’ll stay.”

Gavin Hernon’s French Oaks fifth Dare To Dream, Port Fairy’s stablemate Content and David Menuisier’s Epsom Oaks third War Chimes also feature among 18 confirmations.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Sensational Sariska lived up to all her billing in Curragh cruise

/in /by

Throughout racing’s long and storied history, few Classics can have been won with such ease as Sariska’s Irish Oaks in 2009.

In following up her Epsom triumph over Midday – herself a subsequent multiple Group One winner – Michael Bell’s Sariska looked to have the world at her feet.

Ridden by Jamie Spencer, she had the perfect partner as his patient style saw Lady Bamford’s homebred come swinging into the Curragh’s home straight still on the bridle.

When Spencer allowed his mount an inch of rein, Sariska quickly made up ground on the pacemaker Roses For The Lady, ridden by Spencer’s good friend Fran Berry, with the winning jockey taking a long look across at his hard-at-work pal before it was time for goodbye.

Without much further effort from Spencer, Sariska crossed the line as a three-length winner, hardly knowing she had been in a race.

“She had worked very well the one time we worked her after Epsom and we went there brimming with confidence as she’d done everything we’d asked of her since Epsom,” said Bell.

“Obviously Jamie was the perfect fit for her. The one bit of work she did after Epsom showed us that she was absolutely on her game and with the ground in her favour, I’d have been absolutely devastated if she’d got beaten.

“Jamie rode her to perfection, but the way she won I probably could have ridden her myself!”

While Sariska did have winning form on quick ground, that day at the Curragh it was riding heavy and it was by far her best performance.

Bell went on: “She was a very big, heavy filly and although she was effective on faster ground, she clearly excelled on soft. Her mother was effective on it, the whole family were, and being by Pivotal all signs were she was better with some juice.”

Sariska (left) was beaten by Dar Re Mi on her next outing when in season
Sariska (left) was beaten by Dar Re Mi on her next outing when in season (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

In the immediate aftermath Sariska looked a major player in the rest of the season’s top races. However, she met with defeat in her next outing against Dar Re Mi in the Yorkshire Oaks when it later emerged she was in season.

Despite beating Midday once again on her return the following season in the Middleton Stakes, she was then second to Fame And Glory in the Coronation Cup in what was to be her last race as her famous character then came out in spades.

She refused to leave the stalls for both the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille and was swiftly retired.

“She did come back and win as a four-year-old, so you couldn’t necessarily say running that day at York when it transpired that she was in season left a mark,” said Bell.

“Every horse is slightly different, there’s only so many times you can go to the well with horses and later on in her career she waved the white flag and said ‘I’ve done enough’.

“She’d never shown a hint that she might refuse before the first day she did so at York. She’d always had character, but that was very unexpected.

“The die was cast once she’d done it a second time. We took her for a barrier trial at Lingfield and simulated race conditions as best we could and she pinged the gates. She was just clever.

“That day in France, when Jamie approached the stalls he said he knew she was going to do it, despite the day at Lingfield. She was just clever.

“On pure ability she is right up there with the best I’ve trained. We’ve been lucky to have some very good fillies over the years but I would say her and Red Evie were the best by some way.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Dance saves her best for last to claim Irish Oaks

/in /by

Savethelastdance claimed victory from the jaws of defeat in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

A 22-length winner of the Cheshire Oaks in May, Aidan O’Brien’s filly subsequently filled the runner-up spot behind Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom and was a warm order to go one better on home soil.

But supporters of the 10-11 favourite would have been seriously worried early in the home straight, with Moore already hard at work while British raider Bluestocking breezed into contention.

The latter looked sure to secure top honours after eventually mastering the pacesetting 80-1 outsider Library, but Savethelastdance kept responding to Moore’s urgings and flashed home to prevail by half a length and provide her trainer with an seventh victory in the Irish Classic.

“It’s a long time since she ran, she had a break after Epsom and obviously we knew this was her first run back for an autumn campaign,” said O’Brien.

“She’s a big relaxed mare. Obviously the ground was way different than what she ran on the last time.

“Chris Hayes’ filly (Azazat) just came around her when she was just starting to get going and she might have gotten a little bit intimidated by it.

“The lads were delighted with her at home, she was thriving and doing great. Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he re-motivated her. When she was in a little bit of trouble he kept her coming forward without panicking and got her out, then he asked her to come again.

“It’s a very difficult thing to motivate a horse on that type of ground but she did answer for him. He was brilliant on her.”

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore with Savethelastdance at the Curragh
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with Savethelastdance at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “Obviously we know she stays very well. I’d say she’s going to sharpen up a good bit from today.

“You can bounce her out as forward as you want and I’d say she will find plenty and save plenty.

“She’s a massive big masculine filly, she’s unusual as she’s a filly but she has a pair of horns on her head which is very unusual for a filly. She has a big, strong backside on her.

“It’s very possible (she will stay in training next year), the lads have been doing that if everything is well over the last few years. If they decided that we’d be delighted.

“We’re treating this as her first run of an autumn campaign.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Savethelastdance gets second chance at Classic gold

/in /by

Epsom runner-up Savethelastdance bids to go one better in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh – in which stablemate and Royal Ascot winner Warm Heart is seen as her main threat.

Savethelastdance, the choice of Ryan Moore, was an unheralded filly through the winter having only finished fifth on her sole start at two.

She reappeared in April on heavy ground at Leopardstown, where she surprised by winning at odds of 20-1 before destroying the opposition in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester by 22 lengths.

On quicker ground in the Oaks at Epsom, she was beaten into second by Soul Sister and trainer Aidan O’Brien expects the more conventional nature of the Curragh to suit her better.

Savethelastdance spreadeagled the opposition at Chester
Savethelastdance spreadeagled the opposition at Chester (David Davies/PA)

“Obviously the two of them don’t work together, so it’s going to be interesting,” O’Brien said of the clash between his two smart fillies.

“There’s not much between them on the ratings, Savethelastdance is just a little higher.

“We always thought the Curragh would suit her better and the ground was quick enough in Epsom for her, so she’ll probably prefer a bit more of an ease on Saturday.

“She’s been in good form since and she’s had a nice break, too. Everything has gone well since (Epsom).”

Warm Heart stepped up from beating the reopposing Bluestocking by a head in a Newbury Listed heat to extend her superiority over Ralph Beckett’s charge in the Ribblesdale at Ascot.

“We were delighted with Warm Heart in the Ribblesdale because we weren’t exactly sure about her over a mile and a half,” said O’Brien.

“Obviously she got it well and we’ve been happy with her since.

“She definitely improved at Ascot, whether it was the distance or whatever, but she definitely did improve.”

O’Brien also runs Be Happy and Library.

Bluestocking is aiming to give Beckett a second Irish Classic in two years after Westover’s Derby success last year.

She is owned by Juddmonte, who sponsor the race, and their European bloodstock manager Barry Mahon said: “On the formbook she has to improve, but she’s a lightly-raced filly with only three runs, so we feel that there could be some progression there.

“She’s met Warm Heart twice and been beaten twice so she has a bit to find, but she’s in good form, we feel that she’s learning on the job and we’re hopeful of a good run.

“We saw how green she was at Newbury and Frankie (Dettori) felt she was green at Ascot. She got stuck on the rail and when the gap came, she didn’t really know what to do to get through it, but then picked up and finished off well.

“We hope she’ll be a bit more streetwise on Saturday, the track should suit her, it’s not a big field and a bit easier ground should suit as well. We’re hopeful rather than confident.”

Azazat (green) on her way to winning her maiden at Leopardstown
Azazat (green) on her way to winning her maiden at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Azazat represents Dermot Weld and the Aga Khan. Weld last won the race in 1996 with Dance Design.

Chris Hayes rides the Munster Oaks runner-up and said: “She is a nice filly, who has progressed with every run. She has handled slow ground and she stays quite well. She is bred to possibly get further and I’m looking forward to her.

“She is very straightforward to ride, uncomplicated.

“That form with Rosscarbery (Munster Oaks winner), to come from a maiden and take on a filly like her with that kind of experience, I thought was a good run. Rosscarbery drifted out a little bit on top of her.

“I think she has come forward for that run and hopefully she can put up a good performance.

“She has handled soft ground and circumstance has just led us to run her that way.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Savethelastdance heads O’Brien quartet in Irish Oaks

/in /by

Savethelastdance is one of four runners for Aidan O’Brien in a field of eight declared for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

The master of Ballydoyle has already won the fillies’ Classic on six occasions, a joint-record alongside Sir Michael Stoute.

O’Brien looks to have every chance of going out on his own this weekend, with 22-length Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance the likely favourite on her first start since finishing best of the rest behind Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom last month.

Her biggest threat could prove to be her stablemate Warm Heart, who completed a hat-trick in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Be Happy and Listed winner Library complete the quartet.

British hopes are carried by Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking, who was beaten a head by Warm Heart on her penultimate start at Newbury, but has almost four lengths to find with the same rival from their clash in the Ribblesdale just over four weeks ago.

Splitting the pair in second at the Royal meeting was the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock who adds further strength in depth to the Irish Oaks field.

Azazat, second in the Munster Oaks last time out for Dermot Weld, and Jim Bolger’s Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra are the other hopefuls.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Savethelastdance on course for second Classic chance

/in /by

Savethelastdance could have stablemate Warm Heart among eight rivals when she has another crack at Classic honours in Saturday’s Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge was sent off favourite for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom after a 22-length demolition job in the Cheshire Oaks, but she could not quite catch Soul Sister and was beaten a length and three-quarters.

Fellow Ballydoyle runner Warm Heart appears to be her chief threat, with that filly stepping up from a Newbury Listed win to claim the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. O’Brien also has Be Happy, Lambada and Library in the field, while his son Joseph can call on Ribblesdale runner-up Lumiere Rock.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking is familiar with Warm Heart, having been beaten a head at Newbury and just under four lengths when third at Ascot.

Dermot Weld’s Azazat and the Jim Bolger-trained Comhra complete the list of possibles.

Art Power has won each of his three starts at the Curragh and Tim Easterby’s charge leads 11 contenders for the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes after finishing a fair fourth in the July Cup last weekend.

Karl Burke’s ParisLongchamp Group Three winner White Lavender has been supplemented for the five-furlong contest, which also features Ladies Church, Go Athletico and Moss Tucker.

Emily Dickinson could drop back to a mile and six furlongs in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup after coming home fourth over two and a half miles in the Gold Cup at Ascot.

Fellow Aidan O’Brien contenders include Broome and Gooloogong, winner of a Navan maiden, with Joseph O’Brien’s Duke of Edinburgh Stakes winner Okita Soushi a possible for the Group Two affair.

Valiant King, who was just touched off by Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes at the Royal meeting, is another to note for O’Brien junior, as is Rosscarbery for Paddy Twomey after her luckless Pretty Polly Stakes run.

The Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes has a rich history and after saddling Little Big Bear to win 12 months ago, Aidan O’Brien has five to pick from, headlined by narrow Chesham second Pearls And Rubies.

Twomey houses one of the key performers for Sunday’s Romanised Minstrel Stakes in Just Beautiful, winner of a Curragh Group Two when last seen in May.

Jumbly finished second on that occasion and could try her luck again, while Ger Lyons has three contenders, including recent Group Three scores Zarinsk and Power Under Me.

Coronation Stakes third Sounds Of Heaven is the star name in the Michael John Kennedy Memorial Stakes as she drops back to Group Three level and inches up to nine furlongs for Jessica Harrington.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns