5 minutes Check out my four picks from the Curragh on Saturday.
The Irish Oaks takes centre stage at the Curragh on Saturday which is our feature race at 15:40 the second Fillies classic of the season with a staggering €285K up for grabs for the winner. With an intriguing support card with plenty of UK interest, below I’ll preview the four main races of the day with my selections below.
14:35
An intriguing race with only four runners going to post for this two-year-old Sprint with Aidan O'Brien teaming up with Queen Mary winner True Love (8/11). She bounced back to land the big prize at Royal Ascot having been turned over at short odds at Navan the time before by the impressive future Coventry Stakes winner, Gstaad, with around a length between them and the pair well clear. She is the one to beat in the field although you won't get rich backing her.
If you were to take the form literally then Power Blue (3/1) has a few lengths to find with the favourite here having finished around 5 lengths behind Gstaad in the Coventry however this colt traveling over from the UK has shown a consistent level of form on each start and deserves consideration.
Learntodiscover (13/2) and Puerto Rico (5/1) have each only had the two starts, both of which were over CD where there was only a neck between them last time where the latter gave the impression he was a bit unlucky that day as he had to wait to get his run. Both will need to improve to play a hand at the finish here, however, on their third respective starts that is a possibility.
Selection
True Love
15:05
Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2)
Another sprint but this time over the minimum distance for the older horses and the UK appear to have a firm grip on the race if the market is anything to go by. The Jonathan Portman-trained Rumstar (5/1) roared back to form last time and already has two Group 3 races to his name this season.
He is respected but has something to find with Mgheera (2/1) who hasn't looked back since switching stables over the winter. He came from the back to claim the Temple Stakes last time out with Rumstar behind. If Ed Walker has unlocked his potential then he could be a sprinter going places. He possibly wouldn't want the ground to firm up too much as most of his runs have been on good or softer.
The three year olds have a decent record since this race was inaugurated in 2001 with eight wins to their name and Arizona Blaze is a fascinating runner here. He's been campaigned over further this season after ending last season with a highly respectable second over in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint. He hasn't fully hit his stride yet but led his group home in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup last time at Ascot. The drop back to five furlongs shouldn't hinder and he has plenty of speed to burn. He looks the main threat to the favourite and interestingly has course winning form as a Juvenile.
Selection
Arizona Blaze
15:40
Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies)
Unfortunately, despite the prize money on offer our feature race looks the least competitive race on the card. The English Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk (2/7) will almost be unbackable for this having shown the clear best form in the race. Having got the better of Whirl after a titanic battle at Epsom she is very much the one to beat here. The form looks exceptionally strong with the pair well clear that day and Whirl backing it up in the Pretty Polly last time. Aidan O'Brien has seven wins to his name in this race and this looks a mere penalty kick to make it eight.
Wemightakedlongway (5/1) is second favourite and has shown consistent form all season including a Group 3 win to her name. Her effort in the English Oaks behind Minnie Hauk was creditable but has nearly six lengths to find on the favourite. She ran as though the step back up in trip should suit last time in the Pretty Polly and I'd imagine she may be popular for Forecast backers here to chase home the favourite.
It appears a hopeless task for any of the others with everything else in the field 25/1 or bigger. It really is difficult to see how any of them can land a blow here but for an each way consideration at a large price I would tentatively pick Island Hopping (33/1). She has run well in Listed races and stepping back in trip looks the right move having appeared not to stay over further last time.
Selection
Minnie Hauk
16:15
Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup (Group 2)
The finale is a Stayers race where Al Riffa (5/4) will be all the rage. This dual Group 1 winner only had the outstanding Rebels Romance ahead of him last time. The step up in trip is the unknown quantity in this race but the way he keeps on in his races suggests this trip is within range.
If the favourite is to falter then Shackleton (3/1) could well be the one to pick up the pieces. He was a very good fourth at Royal Ascot in the Queen's Vase before being a bit out of his depth in the Irish Derby. He's still lightly raced so there is a chance we haven't seen the best of him yet.
Harbour Wind (8/1) has a lot of winning form over a variety of staying trips and may have been tuned up for this. He could run well at slightly bigger odds and has an impressive win to run ratio having found the winner's enclosure in five out of his 11 starts. With the favourite very short in the betting and the trip being untried I will take a chance on this one putting his best foot forward today.
Selection
Harbour Wind
