Ajman Princess carries Dubai hopes at Curragh
Mohammad Obaid filly bids to replicate feat of Godolphin’s Blue Bunting
to become the first jman Princess is bidWriterding horse with a Dubai connection since Godolphin’s Blue Bunting in 2011, to win the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks, at the Curragh on Saturday.
Trained by Roger Varian at Newmarket, England, the three-year-old daughter of Teofilo represents Shaikh Mohammad Obaid Al Maktoum, a passionate horse owner who famously won the Group 1 Epsom Derby in 1998 with High Rise.
Ajman Princess was second to Even Song at Royal Ascot and trainer Roger Varian is hopeful of another good run from his filly, who is yet to win a race in four career starts and was only supplemented to the Irish Classic at a cost of the €40,000.
Varian said on Tuesday morning: “I am very thankful Shaikh Mohammad Obaid has agreed to supplement Ajman Princess for the Irish Oaks at the weekend. I feel she is a filly who is progressing at a rate of knots and she will certainly not look out of place in Group One company based on her Royal Ascot form.
AAt The Curragh, Ireland Even Song (8/11), Architecture (6/1), Ajman Princess (13/2), Harlequeen (14/1), Pretty Perfect (14/1), Turret Rocks (14/1), Seventh Heaven (25/1), Somehow (25/1), We Are Ninety (25/1), Red Stars (33/1), An Cailin Orga (66/1), Way To My Heart (150/1)
“I think the galloping nature of the Curragh will suit her and she is versatile in terms of ground. It looks like being just on the easy side at the weekend, which should not prove problematic. Obviously we have a length and a half to find with Even Song, and she sets a high form standard, but our filly is getting better all the time and I hope she can be very competitive.”
The twelve-horse field is headed by Aidan O’Brientrained Even Song an impressive winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last start.
O’Brien, who is looking for a fifth Irish Oaks trophy and first since Bracelet two years ago, also runs Pretty Perfect, Seventh Heaven and Somehow.
Included in a strong challenge from British-based trainers are the Epsom Oaks runner-up, Architecture, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, and Harlequeen, representing former English football great turned racehorse trainer, Mick Channon.