Beauty gets classic chance in Darley Irish Oaks
Currabeg trainer John Oxx took the filly out of last month’s English equivalent as he felt the Epsom Classic would have been too much for her at that stage of her career after just two races.
However, with another month on her back and with the Curragh being on the doorstep, Oxx believes this is a more suitable opportunity for the unbeaten daughter of Rainbow Quest, owned and bred by Neil Jones.
“She’s in good health and she’s in good form. Everything’s been fine with her all along,” said Oxx.
“She’s just a particular lazy worker at home. We get no signals from her work, I’m afraid, so we just have to run her now and see where she fits in.
“Epsom would have been too demanding a test for her, a filly with only two runs.
“We couldn’t get any read from her homework. We just thought it would be a bad move to throw her in there so obviously this is down the road from us. She’s in good nick so we’ll give her a chance to see what she can do on the track.”
Oxx has also left in Roses For The Lady, who may take her chance if there is plenty of cut in the ground.
“She has not had the chance to run on soft which she likes, so she’s a possible runner if the weather deteriorated at the weekend. It’s a possibility rather than a probability,” he added.
A field of 12 is headed by Sariska and Midday. The first and second in the Investec Oaks, described by Oxx as “very good fillies”, are set to clash again after being supplemented for 50,000 Euro.
Only a head separated the pair, trained by Michael Bell and Henry Cecil respectively, at Epsom.
Midday is owned by Khalid Abdullah and his racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, played down the idea that the Classic is just between the Epsom first and second.
“There is no such thing as a two-horse race and there are plenty of others in the race,” he said.
“We have got a head to find, but it’s going to be very interesting.
“I spoke to (general manager) Paul Hensey at the Curragh this morning and they’ve had quite a bit of rain – it is yielding on the soft side at the moment.
“The forecast is probably good until Saturday and we don’t know if there’s going to be more (rain) or not.
“I would think by the sounds of it – it is going to be good or just on the easy side of good, which would be acceptable for us,” he told At The Races.
Ladbrokes make Sariska the 11-10 favourite ahead of Midday at 9-4 with Beauty O’Gwaun only 3-1.
“The Epsom result sets the standard but we’re very serious about Beauty O’Gwaun whose winning form has worked out particularly well,” said Ladbrokes’ David Williams.
“For the time being we’re happy to lay the favourite at a shade of odds against.”
Darley Irish Oaks betting:
Ladbrokes: 11-10 Sariska, 9-4 Midday, 3-1 Beauty O’Gwaun, 10-1 Grace O’Malley, 12-1 Oh Goodness Me, 20-1 Roman Empress, 25-1 Roses For The Lady, 50-1 The Miniver Rose, 66-1 bar.
William Hill: Evens Sariska, 5-2 Midday, 7-2 Beauty O’Gwaun, 9-1 Grace O’Malley, 16-1 Oh Goodness Me, Roses For The Lady, 25-1 Roman Empress, 50-1 The Miniver Rose, 66-1 bar.
Cashmans: 11/10 Sariska, 15/8 Midday, 7 Beauty O'Gwaun, 12 Grace O'Malley, 12 Oh Goodness Me, 12 The Miniver Rose, 14 Roman Empress, 16 Roses For The Lady, 66 Chirkova, 250 Rory Anna, 500 Belle Chose, 1000 Destined For Fame
