CURVY ADDED TO OAKS FIELD
THERE were two additions for Saturday’s Irish Oaks but also a surprising withdrawal.
Favourite Diamondsandrubies will not bid for back-to-back Group One victories after Aidan O’Brien took her out of the Classic yesterday.
Her place at the head of the market has been taken by Ribblesdale heroine Curvy, who was supplemented at a cost of
40,000 along with Hugo Palmer’s Covert Love as 16 stood their ground at the latest declaration stage.
O’Brien, who has won the Irish Oaks four times, still has seven entries, including Investec Oaks winner Qualify, Together Forever and Words.
“It will all depend on how they are working and what way the ground will be – there is a little bit of rain hanging around – some of them would like it nice and some of them would like it on the soft side,” said O’Brien.
“A mile and a half should suit Together Forever, Qualify is a possible depending on ground and work and Words is a filly that has only had two runs, she won her Group Three at Cork nicely.” Jack Naylor and Pleascach also represent the home team and there is further British interest in Ralph Beckett’s Forte, Gretchen, trained by John Gosden and James Fanshawe’s Speedy Boarding.
Diamondsandrubies, who beat 1,000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo in the Pretty Polly Stakes, looks set to clash with that rival again in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on August 1.