IRELAND'S Ebadiyla can carry the Aga Khan's famous green and red colours to a dramatic success in today's Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.
The opening lines to this particular drama were performed in 1989 when Alisya failed a drug test taken after she won that year's Oaks and the Aga Khan boycotted British racing in protest. Ebadiyla is his first runner in the race since the boycott was lifted and if she can win today, it will be a particularly sweet moment for him.
At her current odds, Ebadiyla looks good value to do just that and also become the first Irish winner of the Oaks since Jet Ski Lady sprang a 50 to 1 shock in 1991.
Johnny Murtagh's mount would not be such a shock winner but rather like tomorrow's Derby, the build-up to the Oaks has been dominated by one horse. Reams Of Verse was a hugely impressive winner of York's Musidora Stakes and represents Henry Cecil, who is bidding for his fifth Oaks. At current odds she is all but unbackable but on pedigree alone there must be a real doubt about her lasting the mile and a half trip.
Her sire, Nureyev, is an influence for speed, and Reams Of Verses half brother, Elmamuul, although third in the Derby, was best at 10 furlongs. Throw in Reams Of Verses' obvious speed and acceleration to that pot and she could well be taking after the family pattern.
There are no such doubts about her stable companion Yashmak, to be ridden by Michael Kinane, or Michael Stoute's Crown Of Light, but Ebadiyla looks the best equipped to take advantage of any stamina weakness in the favourite.
John Oxx is not a trainer to bullishly predict victory for any of his horses but there is an air of quiet confidence about him that suggests his comparatively inexperienced daughter of Sadler's Wells is about to improve dramatically on what she has done so far.
Not that there has been much wrong with that. After an easy Curragh maiden win in April, she showed understandable signs of greenness when a very close third to the colts, Ashley Park and Casey Tibbs, in the Derrinstown Derby Trial. She also looked that day as if 12 furlongs will be ideal for her.
She has definitely improved since then and learned a lot from that," Oxx said yesterday before adding: "The big thing in our favour is the trip. If it comes down to a test of stamina, she won't be found wanting."
Oxx admits to concerns about firm ground but heavy showers are forecast for Epsom today, so it's unlikely to be too fast for Ebadiyla, who can give Oxx and Murtagh their first British classic and send the Aga Khan home a very happy man.
The other Irish interest today is in the Vodafone Coronation Cup, where Oscar Schindler takes on the horse with reasonable claims to being called the best in the world, the Dubai World Cup and Japan Cup winner, Singspiel.
Oscar Schindler improved dramatically last season to win the Irish St Leger and run third in the Arc and showed he is still a formidable force with a second to Dance Design over an inadequate trip in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
However, he will have his work cut out taking on a really battle-hardened, adaptable professional in Singspiel, who may also be better suited to handling Epsom's notorious rollercoaster track than the big and rangy Oscar Schindler.
