RYAN MOORE broke his British classic duck with a vengeance when scoring an Oaks-Derby double at Epsom last month and the champion jockey will hope Snow Fairy can do the same for him in Ireland this weekend when attempting a classic double of her own in the Darley Irish Oaks.
The Ed Dunlop-trained filly defeated Meeznah in a thrilling finish to the Oaks at Epsom and is set to be supplemented into the Curragh version tomorrow at a cost of €42,500.
Epsom form has dominated the Irish Oaks in recent years with Ouija Board (2004), Alexandrova (2006) and Sariska (2009) all completing the Epsom-Curragh double and Moonstone (2008) and Peeping Fawn (2007), both runners-up in England, going one better on home ground.
Not surprisingly Meeznah is set to renew rivalry with Snow Fairy while Godolphin’s Ribblesdale Stakes winner Hibaayeb is also expected to be supplemented into the Irish classic. Michael Stoute’s Eldalil, runner-up to Hibaayeb at Royal Ascot, could also be put into the race.
Ed Dunlop supplied Ouija Board to win six years ago, and also Lailani in 2001, and the Newmarket trainer is confident Moore will be available again to ride his latest star three year old.
Britain’s champion jockey ran third on Music Show in this year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas and Moore also finished third in 2008 on board Tartan Bearer in the Irish Derby and Carribean Sunset in the 1,000.
Almost an inch of rain fell on the Curragh over the weekend turning the ground to officially “good”. The course manager Paul Hensey said yesterday: “Our ground had been pretty quick but it is good this morning. We will see what the weather brings during the week. There will be rain but not in the volumes we had through the weekend.”
He added: “We’re looking at the first three from Epsom coming here and the Ribblesdale winner. There will also be a strong home team so it looks a good race.”
Saturday’s Curragh feature will be the Group Three Minstrel Stakes.
An ultra-busy week in Ireland begins today with Dundalk racing on the all-weather and Killarney beginning their four-day July festival. The most valuable race of the day, the €21,500 seven-furlong conditions race on the synthetic surface, is also the smallest with just four runners dominated by Ballydoyle-hope Air Chief Marshal.
Aidan O’Brien’s 103-rated colt was a Group One runner-up in last year’s Phoenix Stakes but has cut little ice in three starts this term. However, he is thrown in here on the conditions and it’s hard to see him getting beaten.
Johnny Murtagh can also score on Seven Summits today while The Mighty Atom is preferred to Gala Spirit and The Grey Rebel in the six furlong maiden. Polly Ella is 9lb higher for scoring at Bellewstown last week but looks on a roll for the mile handicap.
Co Kerry native Tommy Stack is always a man to follow at Killarney and Cambina wasn’t beaten too far on her Curragh debut behind Seeharn. Improvement can be expected in the festival opener.
