The David Wachman-trained Curvy heads the 10-runner field for Saturday’s Darley Irish Oaks
A four-time winner this season, the daughter of leading sire Galileo steps up to Group 1 company for the first time in her career after winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Wayne Lordan, who has guided the filly to three of her victories this season, will ride the current 2/1 favourite with bookmakers Paddy Power.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien will have four runners in his attempt to win the race for a fifth time and a second year in a row after being successful with Bracelet last year. O’Brien’s team includes Epsom Oaks winner Qualify and the two-time winner Words who won the Group 3 Munster Oaks at Cork on her sole start this season and is the shortest price of the O’Brien quartet at 100/30. Ballydoyle’s other two runners in the race are the 109-rated pair of Kissed By Angels and Together Forever.
The Irish Oaks has been a successful race for overseas challengers for many years and since 1999 the race has been won by 10 overseas runners and this years renewal has attracted three British runners. Pat Smullen will ride the supplemented Covert Love for Hugo Palmer, while Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner John Gosden will bid to win the race for a second time with the trainer hoping Gretchen can follow up Great Heavens in 2012. Speedy Boarding is the other British runner for James Fanshawe.
Jessica Harrington will bid to become the first ever lady to train the winner of the Irish Oaks when saddling Jack Naylor who was fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and sixth in the Epsom Oaks earlier in the year. Jim Bolger’s representative is Stellar Glow who completes the field for Saturday’s feature.
The ground at the Curragh is currently good to firm and racecourse manager Paul Hensey said; “The ground just tightened up a little bit after a lovely day here yesterday but it is still lovely ground and I’d say there is more good than firm in it. We are due some rain this afternoon and into tonight which they say could be 5-10mm and that will dictate the ground for the weekend. The Darley Irish Oaks looks a good competitive field with a very strong home challenge and some high class horses coming over from England.”
Admission
Sat 20 euro / Under 25s & Seniors 10 euro / Under 16s free
Sun 15 euro / Under 25s & Seniors 8 euro / Under 16s free
Getting to the races
Free car parking
Trains to Kildare Town with free shuttle bus to races
Dublin Coach run service on race days – see dublincoach.ie
