Sheikh Mohammed may be in need of the £114,000 first prize for tomorrow's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks at the Curragh like most of us need five pence but he will still be keen to pick up the Group One kudos of the race he sponsors and his wish should come true with Bahr.
Not since Alydaress in 1989 have the Sheikh's colours been first past the post in the Oaks and while Bahr carries the royal blue of his Godolphin operation, she should continue the superb recent run of the Sheikh's Dubai-based string.
Bahr has looked a top-class filly all season and after winning Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes was acclaimed by Frankie Dettori as the best three-year-old staying filly in Europe.
Dettori's desire for recognition for Bahr may have been partly due to the ride he gave her in the Epsom Oaks where she was beaten by Shahtoush. Dettori wasn't overly proud of the ride he gave Bahr there as Michael Kinane looked to surprise him somewhat on Shahtoush after Bahr looked all over the winner at the two-furlong pole.
She still confirmed earlier Musidora Stakes form with Midnight Line and the Ribblesdale defeat of Shahtoush's stable companion Star Begonia looked to have the stamp of complete authority.
Tomorrow's race looks an ideal opportunity for Bahr to register a Group One classic success despite the worry that three comparatively quick races may have taken a toll on such a slight filly.
Certainly the formbook leaves the others with something to find. Aidan O'Brien runs both the Irish 1,000 Guineas runner up Kitza and the seasonal debutant Musk Lime with Michael Kinane on Kitza. She's unproven over the trip but along with John Oxx's Winona, third to Exclusive in the Coronation Stakes, looks the best chance of an Irish victory.
The other cross-channel raiders are Glorosia, third in a Longchamp Group Three in her only run so far this season, and Napoleon's Sister, 14 lengths behind Shahtoush at Epsom, but they don't look to have the sort of solid credentials to upset the favourite.
Dettori is also taken to land the Listed Rockingham Handicap on the topweight Lidanna.
Asking any horse to hump 9st 10lb in such a competitive race is asking a lot, but Lidanna has an undeniable touch of class that has already given her a Group win this season. On what could be a very profitable day for the visitors, the nap goes to Centre Stalls in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes. The Fulke Johnson-Houghton trained colt has a number of high-class efforts under his belt, including a second in last season's Queen Anne Stakes and a third to Cape Cross and Poteen in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May.
Burden Of Proof and last year's winner Ramooz will be formidable opposition but Centre Stalls can gain an overdue success. The other Group race on the card is the Anglesey Stakes which is an all-home affair and John Oxx's Namid is the selection. Aidan O'Brien's Royal Academy colt Lavery is a well-regarded newcomer in the Kennedy Maiden while in the opening Ladies Derby, the choice is Dermot Weld's Gowran winner Allegedly Yours.
