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Aidan O'Brien will be hoping for a seventh Irish Oaks this afternoon with Savethelastdance heading the market in her bid to go one better than at Epsom in June.
It looks to be something of a battle between the two O'Brien fillies – Savethelastdance and Warm Heart – with Ryan Moore opting to ride the former on the back of her excellent second in the English equivalent at Epsom.
The daughter of Galileo made a quiet debut when fifth at Thurles last season but returned to action with a surprise 20/1 success in a Leopardstown maiden on heavy ground this April. O'Brien's filly took her form to a new level when a stunning twenty-two lengths winner in the Group 3 Cheshire Oaks at Chester a month later and lost little in defeat when runner-up to Soul Sister at Epsom last start.
The return to a slower surface and more conventional track looks likely to suit the warm market leader.
Aidan O'Brien said: "We always thought the Curragh would suit her better and the ground was quick enough in Epsom for her, so she'll probably prefer a bit more of an ease on Saturday.
"She's been in good form since and she's had a nice break, too. Everything has gone well since [Epsom]."
"Obviously the two of them don't work together, so it's going to be interesting," O'Brien said of the clash between his two smart fillies.
"There's not much between them on the ratings, Savethelastdance is just a little higher."
Warm Heart will be bidding to extend her winning run to four following back-to-back wins over Bluestocking including when taking out the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
O'Brien said: "We were delighted with Warm Heart in the Ribblesdale because we weren't exactly sure about her over a mile and a half,"
"Obviously she got it well and we've been happy with her since.
"She definitely improved at Ascot, whether it was the distance or whatever, but she definitely did improve."
The reopposing Bluestocking seemingly has something to find with the O'Brien pair, but she does remain lightly-raced after just three career outings.
European bloodstock manager Barry Mahon said: "On the formbook, she has to improve, but she's a lightly-raced filly with only three runs, so we feel that there could be some progression there.
"She's met Warm Heart twice and been beaten twice so she has a bit to find, but she's in good form, we feel that she's learning on the job and we're hopeful of a good run.
"We saw how green she was at Newbury and Frankie [Dettori] felt she was green at Ascot. She got stuck on the rail and when the gap came, she didn't really know what to do to get through it, but then picked up and finished off well.
"We hope she'll be a bit more streetwise on Saturday, the track should suit her, it's not a big field and a bit easier ground should suit as well. We're hopeful rather than confident."
