Aidan O'Brien got the better of the Curragh Derby argument with John Gosden but Enable is an odds-on favourite to give the English trainer classic revenge in Saturday's Darley Irish Oaks.
Gosden also has the option of running the Royal Ascot winner Coronet alongside Enable in the €400,000 feature while O’Brien has five potential starters after 14 fillies were left in the Oaks following Tuesday’s forfeit stage.
It leaves the race set up for another instalment in the rivalry between the two top trainers although Enable is rated a clear 2-5 favourite to come out on top.
She was a five length winner over O’Brien’s Rhododendron in last month’s Epsom Oaks but a day later the Ballydoyle pair Wings Of Eagles and Cliffs Of Moher edged out the Gosden-trained Cracksman in the Derby.
Cracksman again came up short in the Irish Derby earlier this month when a neck shy of O’Brien’s Capri at the line and judged by some to be a little unlucky in running.
Ballydoyle ran five in Ireland’s premier classic and could field a similarly sized Oaks squad with Rain Goddess – runner up to Nezwaah in the Pretty Polly the day after the Derby – rated a 5-1 second favourite for Saturday by Paddy Power.
Alluringly and Coronet may renew rivalry from Royal Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes where the Gosden runner emerged best in a close finish with Mori.
O’Brien is chasing a sixth Irish Oaks victory which would equal Sir Michael Stoute’s race record while Gosden won the classic previously with Great Heavens in 2012.
The Irishman succeeded Gosden as Britain’s champion trainer in 2016 and has secured more than twice as much prizemoney as his rival across-channel so far this year.
O’Brien is already into double-figures for Group One victories in 2017 and faces a busy top-flight week.
Caravaggio is verging on odds-on in some betting lists for Saturday’s July Cup. But a day prior to that Roly Poly is likely to line up for Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes while O’Brien’s Group One focus could also take in Friday evening’s ‘Bastille Day’ card at Saint-Cloud.
Home team
Three Ballydoyle colts are among the 11 names remaining in the €600,000 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris due off at 7.25.
Venice Beach beat Wings Of Eagles in the Chester Vase but could finish only 12th at Epsom and he features alongside Orderofthegarter and the ten length Gowran maiden winner Spanish Steps.
O’Brien has won the mile and a half highlight twice before, with Imperial Monarch in 2012 and Scorpion in 2005.
Godolphin’s Dante and King Edward VII winner Permian has been supplemented into the race, as has the Italian Derby hero, Mac Mahon while the home team is likely to be headed by the Prix Hocquart victor, Ice Breeze.
Frankie Dettori will ride another of the sponsors hopes, Weekender, in Paris before switching his Group One gaze to the Curragh on Saturday.
The Italian missed out on the Irish Derby with a shoulder injury but returns to action at Newmarket on Thursday.
"He's just got the two rides," reported his agent, Ray Cochrane. "It's about time he was back!"
Jessica Harrington's Brother Bear and the Ballydoyle colt Gustav Klimit are prominent in ante-post lists for next year's 2,000 Guineas and both figure among the 16 left in Saturday's Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.
Before that one of O’Brien’s Oaks entries, the 69-rated Ruby Quest, is due to make a first handicap start in the last race at Dundalk’s Wednesday afternoon card.
The Fastnet Rock filly has failed to set the world on fire in five starts, and looked tricky at times too. But she tries a mile and a half for the first time and Ana O’Brien’s 3lb claim is being employed.
