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Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh promises to be a memorable renewal with 18 fillies on the list of entries, including the David O’Mara-trained Lava Stream and the Johnny Murtagh-trained Hanalia who were supplemented for the race today.
Champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins will saddle impressive Leopardstown winner Lope De Lilas as he attempts to emulate his legendary father Paddy Mullins who won the Irish Oaks with Vintage Tipple in 2003.
Aidan O’Brien unsurprisingly holds a strong hand in his quest for consecutive victories and an eighth Juddmonte Irish Oaks success in total. Royal Ascot winner Port Fairy benefited from a Ryan Moore masterclass in the Ribblesdale Stakes and looks to spearhead the six-strong Ballydoyle challenge for Saturday.
Among O’Brien’s other entries are Content, who finished third in the Group 1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes last month and Greenfinch who was third in the Oaks Trial at Naas behind Hanalia.
Alain de Royer-Dupre exported the 2005 and 2013 editions of the Irish Oaks to France and Cork native but Chantilly-based trainer Gavin Hernon has the aptly named Dare To Dream still in contention for Saturday’s renewal.
Noel Meade’s Caught U Looking finished fifth in the English Oaks at Epsom but will return to the scene of her Weld Park Stakes victory last year.
Strong British contest
Both of the opening two Irish Classics on Tattersalls Guineas weekend went to British-trained runners and there is once again a strong representation from British-based trainers.
As well as the supplemented Lava Stream, Roger Varian has left in Ejaabiyah and Ralph Beckett may be represented by You Got To Me.
David Menuisier, who saddled Sunway to finish second in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, will look to go one better in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks with War Chimes.
Purple Lily will be an interesting contender for trainer Paddy Twomey after her fifth place finish in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, while Joseph O’Brien relies on Galileo Dame as he searches for a first victory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks. The potential line-up is completed by the Dermot Weld-trained Elizabeth Jane and the Ger Lyons-trained Madam Celeste.
The Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes also features on Saturday’s card with the 110-rated Valiant Force heading the field for trainer Adrian Murray.
Curragh specialist
Curragh specialist Art Power will drop back to the minimum distance for trainer Tim Easterby, while Jack Davison’s She’s Quality is seeking a hat-trick of wins.
As well as a strong claim in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks, Willie Mullins will also saddle the Melbourne Cup candidate Vauban in the Group 2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup in what could be a fascinating clash with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Tower Of London.
The legendary bookmaker David Power will be remembered with the David Power Memorial Premier Handicap in which course and distance winner My Mate Alfie and the William Haggas-trained Wiltshire are likely to top the weights.
Racing at the curragh on Sunday features the Group 2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes where Lord Massusus will return to the Curragh looking for big race honours for Joe Murphy, while the Willie McCreery-trained Ocean Jewel is also entered.
The Ger Lyons-trained Sakti is among 18 entries for the Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes, while Lyons’ impressive two-year-old winner Babouche is another interesting runner for the trainer in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse Anglesey Stakes.
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