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Aidan O'Brien has Even Song at concert pitch for Irish Oaks

3 minute read

Royal Ascot heroine Even Song is all the rage to provide Aidan O'Brien with a fifth victory in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Even Song winning the Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
Even Song winning the Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) Picture: Racing and Sports

Epsom heroine Alexandrova provided the Ballydoyle maestro with his first triumph in the mile-and-a-half Classic a decade ago and he went on to win the next two renewals with Peeping Fawn and Moonstone.

Like O'Brien's most recent victor Bracelet (2014), Even Song is bidding to follow up success in the Ribblesdale Stakes and the trainer has been pleased with how his charge has recovered from those exertions a month ago.

He said: "She's in good form. She had a little rest after Ascot and we've been happy with her since. She seems to handle most types of ground and we are looking forward to running her."

Even Song is the chief hope among four runners for O'Brien, with Munster Oaks winner Pretty Perfect and Epsom Oaks fourth and sixth Somehow and Seventh Heaven also in contention.

O'Brien added: "I've been very happy with Somehow since Epsom and we just felt that she didn't act around Epsom and we think the Curragh will suit her better.

"She raced a little bit idle in the Oaks, so we're putting a pair of cheekpieces on her.

"We thought Seventh Heaven might not have handled Lingfield and then thought she didn't handle Epsom. Seamus (Heffernan, jockey) thinks the Curragh will suit her better.

"When Pretty Perfect stepped back up to a mile and a half last time, she loved it and it seemed to bring out the best in her."

A strong British challenge is headed by the Hugo Palmer-trained pair of Architecture and We Are Ninety.

Architecture ran a fantastic race to fill the runner-up spot behind O'Brien's top-class filly Minding at Epsom a nd while she could not lay a glove on Even Song at Ascot, Palmer, who won last year's Irish Oaks with Covert Love, is confident she will make more of a race of it.

He said of the supplemented Architecture: "The official handicapper has her rated 3lb higher than the odds-on favourite. He obviously believes her Epsom performance was greater than Even Song's at Ascot.

"Architecture was disappointing at Ascot, but it came less than a fortnight after the Oaks and we're happy with her going to Ireland."

Frankie Dettori rides Architecture, while Pat Smullen, aboard Covert Love 12 months ago, gets the leg-up on We Are Ninety for the first time.

The daughter of Thewayyouare was sixth in the Ribblesdale - two places ahead of her better-fancied stable companion - and Palmer sees her as an interesting outsider.

The Newmarket handler said: "The form of her Listed win has worked out well. I think she thoroughly deserves her place in the field and she has Ireland's leading jockey on her back in Pat Smullen.

"Pat managed to navigate Covert Love from stall eight to win the race last year, We Are Ninety has the same draw and the similarities don't stop there.

"Physically, they look very similar, both won their first races as three-year-olds at Chelmsford and Covert Love also won a Listed race before she won the Irish Oaks.

"Both fillies are in good form. They'll both be fine on the ground and I hope both have good chances in what I believe is an open race."

Smullen is also hoping lightning strikes twice.

He said: "We Are Ninety is a very progressive filly. She was well fancied going into Royal Ascot and probably ran a little below par, but you can forgive any horse for that.

"Obviously Hugo thinks enough of her to bring her over and hopefully we can have a repeat of what happened last year. Hugo has a great record and any time you team up with Hugo, you are always hopeful for a big run."

Ajman Princess has finished second on each of her four starts to date for Roger Varian, most recently in the Ribblesdale. Like Architecture, she was added to the line-up at the supplementary stage.

Varian said: "We've always liked this filly and although she's still a maiden, her form is very strong.

"She split Listed winners (Abingdon and Skiffle) on her second run at Ascot and her second in the Ribblesdale showed that she's a high-level performer.

"Take Even Song out and it has a very open look to it. We thought we'd be best lining up with every chance of finishing in the first three.

"I think she's improving - a lot of three-year-old fillies are at this time of year. She's been supplemented and she should be well suited by the track."

Mick Channon's Harlequeen arrives fresh, having been off the track since finishing third at Epsom.

"We're hoping the Curragh will suit her better than Epsom," said the trainer.

"She did nothing wrong there, in truth, and we were pleased with her run. She's certainly come on for the experience - what you must remember is that she's only had four runs in her life.

"Obviously, we've got a bit to find with Hugo's horse, and the Ballydoyle filly might be very good, but we're going there thinking she's going to run a very nice race again."

Jim Bolger is represented by Turret Rocks and An Cailin Orga.

The former was last seen finishing seventh to Minding at Epsom, and Bolger said: "She's very well. Hopefully the ground will be good on Saturday."

John Oxx's Red Stars and Way To My Heart from Joseph O'Brien's stable complete the 12-strong field.


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