IT is classic weekend at the Curragh, and the eyes of the global racing sector will be trained on the meeting.

While the three-year-old generation do battle for glory in the two Guineas races, it is likely that the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup will have the greatest interest. This race has faced its challenges with regard to keeping its status, and came close to being downgraded. What a shame that would have been, and while tomorrow’s field might be small, it exudes quality.

The addition of Vadeni to the line-up was the sort of boost the race needed, and deserved. A homebred of His Highness the Aga Khan, the four-year-old son of Churchill is looking to return to winning ways, and add to his successes last year in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, and the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

He subsequently finished third to Luxembourg, with whom he locks horn again, in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, before making Alpinista dig deep in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. His comeback race last month should leave him spot on for this weekend’s challenge, but he will have to be at his best to win.

As our front cover suggests, this could be a most memorable Sunday for the Aga Khan team, as their wonderful filly Tahiyra will start at very short odds in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.

The daughter of Siyouni deserves to head the market, given that she won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the same venue last year, joyfully in the presence of Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

Tahiyra can make amends for her narrow defeat at the hands of Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. That day, the pair finished more than seven lengths clear of the rest.

After Tahiyra’s Group 1 juvenile success, Princess Zahra said: “For all of us on the breeding team to see this family produce another fantastic filly is a really great thing” A Group 1 double for the team would again emphasise how influential the bloodlines nurtured now into a second century at the Aga Khan Studs continue to be.

It is incredible how regularly my analysis of big race winners reveals that they descend from an Aga Khan family, or contain stallions that were successful for the same studs. It is little wonder therefore that the stud’s long and successful history stands as testament to their meticulous planning, and will feature prominently for many generations to come.