S N OW doubt about it..
DOUBLE IS ON THE CARDS AS AIDAN LOOKS TO CLAIM ANOTHER CLASSIC SUCCESS
SNOWFALL should become the 15th filly to complete the English-irish Oaks double when she lines up at the Curragh today.
But the 120-rated Deep Impact filly makes no appeal as a betting proposition as she looks certain to be sent off at long odds-on to give Aidan O’brien a sixth win in the classic and Ryan Moore a second.
Successful once as a juvenile, in a Curragh maiden on this weekend last year, Snowfall then came up short when tried in Group-race company, including tilts at the Group
1 Moyglare and Fillies Mile.
But she has been a revelation this season, making all to land the Musidora at York at the expense of Noon Star, a victory which many ‘experts’ attributed to Ryan Moore’s tactical, front-running ride.
Snowfall, of course, silenced her doubters and critics in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom.
She came from off the pace under a confident ride by Frankie Dettori (inset), hitting the front at the twofurlong pole and drawing clear to pulverise her rivals, scoring by a record margin of 16 lengths from Mystery Angel, with one of her rivals today, stable-companion Divinely, back in fourth. On that sort of form, admittedly on ‘good to soft’ ground, Snowfall is unopposable today. If she brings her ‘A game’ to the table, she should win with plenty in hand.
On ratings, Snowfall has a minimum of 15lb to spare over her rivals, with Donnacha O’brien’s Nicest, and Ballydoyle filly Divinely – third and fourth respectively in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot – next in line, ahead of Naas Oaks Trial heroine Willow, another of Aidan O’brien’s four runners.
The Group 2 Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes is another cracker.
It features the clash of Michael Browne’s stable star Logo Hunter, bidding for a hattrick following listed wins at Naas and Cork, and Johnny Murtagh’s filly Measure Of Magic, conqueror of Logo Hunter in the Committed at Navan in the spring and 2lb worse off this time.
Last time, Measure Of Magic performed creditably in third, without threatening the leading duo, in the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) at Royal Ascot.
She is marginally preferred in a race which also features Joe Murphy’s Greenlands winner Gustavus Weston and the progressive, Eddie Lynamtrained ‘Dash’ winner Romantic Proposal.