Epsom Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk will face six rivals in Saturday’s renewal of the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.
Minnie Hauk’s trainer Aidan O’Brien will also saddle Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily as he attempts to win an eighth renewal of the €500,000 fillies Classic.
Minnie Hauk ended last season with a maiden success before landing the Chesire Oaks at Chester in May before holding off stable companion Whirl in the Epsom Oaks last month.
It is the only filly to finish in front of Minnie Hauk who poses her biggest threat at the Curragh on Saturday as Wemightakedlongway takes her place in the field for Joseph O’Brien.
The son of the champion trainer sent out Wemightakedlongway to win a Cork maiden ahead of Minnie Hauk last term but that form was reversed at Epsom when Joseph O’Brien’s daughter of Australia had to settle for minor honours.
Wemightakedlongway was fourth at Epsom and filled the same position in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Derby weekend behind Whirl.
“We are looking forward to running Wemightakedlongway,” the Piltown based conditioner said on Thursday morning. “There is some rain forecast and any rain that falls we think might help her chances in Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks.”
Johnny Murtagh is no stranger to Irish Oaks success at the Curragh having won the race six times as a jockey and will look for his first as a trainer with Subsonic.
Carrying the colours of Newtown Anner Stud, Subsonic was second behind Minnie Hauk at Leopardstown last season and will once again be the mount of Ben Coen.
The field for this renewal of the Irish Oaks is completed by the Fozzy Stack-trained Bay Colony.
Group 2 winner Mgheera is a notable declaration for the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes for which eight runners will go to post.
Ed Walker has secured the services of Ryan Moore for the five-year-old mare as she takes on the other British-trained entry Rumstar for Jonathan Portman, while the Adrian Murray-trained Arizona Blaze, who went down by just a neck in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, is the main local candidate.
The Group 2 Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup has attracted nine runners, including the well-travelled Group 1 winner Al Riffa for Joseph O’Brien and his stable companions Leinster and Uxmal.
O’Brien said: “Al Riffa steps up in distance for the first time and we’re looking forward to seeing how that goes at the Curragh on Saturday. Leinster ran well at Royal Ascot and Uxmal is having his first run off a lay off and it is nice to get him back on track.”
Aidan O’Brien will saddle Shackleton, London City and Queenstown, while Dermot Weld’s talented five-year-old Harbour Wind is another interesting runner in this €120,000 staying event.
Four juveniles will look for Group 2 honours in the GAIN Railway Stakes. The only filly in the field is the Aidan O’Brien-trained True Love who impressed when winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ballydoyle also run the maiden Puerto Rico.
Adrian Murray won the race two years ago with Bucanero Fuerte and this time relies on Curragh maiden winner Power Blue, while Ger Lyons runs the course and distance winner Learntodiscover in the €120,000 contest.
Last year’s winner Big Gossey will seek back to back victories in the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap. Charles O’Brien’s admirable eight-year-old is already a four-time course and distance winner and is the mount of Robert Whearty again this time.
Sixteen runners will chase the lion’s share of the €100,000 prize for Saturday’s feature handicap and among them is the Michael & David Easterby-trained Canon’s House who is three from three this season.
Eddie Lynam and Wayne Lordan will team up with Heavenly Power who is another Curragh regular and is a three time course and distance winner while last month’s Curragh victor Gazelle D’or returns for Michael Grassick and Niall McCullagh.
Racing gets underway at 1.30pm with the Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden and concludes at 5.25pm with the Cavalor Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Click here to view declarations for Saturday 19th July
Click here to view entries for Sunday 20th July
Additional information
Going update
The going is good, good to yielding in places.
Admission
Saturday
Adult Admission €30 online until Friday evening (€35 on day)
Concessions for Seniors & Under 21s – €20
Curragh Bundle (admission, race card, €10 food voucher, €5 Tote bet) – €42
Under 18s free accompanied by an adult
Sunday
Adult Admission €20
Concessions for Seniors & Under 21s – €15
Family Bundle (2 adult admission, Under 18s free, race card, 4 x €10 food voucher & 4 ice creams) – €60
Under 18s free accompanied by an adult
Discounts and further information available on line at curragh.ie/tickets
Limited number of hospitality packages are still available for purchase – contact [email protected] or contact a member of our sales team on 045 441205
Gates open
Saturday at 11.30am – 1st race 1.30pm
Sunday at 11.30am – 1st race 1.20pm
Where to watch
All races throughout the weekend broadcast live on Racing TV with live coverage of selected races on RTÉ television on Saturday
Weekend fun
Barberstown Castle Sapphire Style Awards on Saturday while on Sunday it is fun for all the family with an exciting line up of free activities for younger racegoers featuring an amazing Dragon experience.
Transport
Free bus service from Newbridge Train Station and Main Street Newbridge, also from Kildare Town Train Station and The Square in the town – all times on curragh.ie
Car Parking
Free car parking at the Racecourse.