Al Maktoum to make Oaks decision later in the week
The John Gosden-trained Taghrooda got the better of Dermot Weld’s Tarfasha in the Investec Oaks at Epsom in early June and both are among 15 horses still in contention for this weekend’s Group One feature.
Asked whether both fillies could run, Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold said: “I honestly don’t know and as is always the case, those decisions will be made by Sheikh Hamdan.
“Both fillies have been left in at this stage and we’ll make a decision on running plans later in the week.
“Both trainers are keen to run and tell me their fillies are in good form, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Aidan O’Brien has saddled three previous Irish Oaks winners and is mob-handed this time around, with Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Bracelet joined by five stable companions in Beyond Brilliance, Just Gorgeous, Marvellous, Palace and Tapestry.
Taghrooda is not the only potential British challenger, with Luca Cumani’s Volume, the Mick Channon-trained Nancy From Nairobi and Richard Hannon’s Lustrous also in contention.
Weld has also left in Vote Often.
* Ponfeigh, who finished fourth in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, could have his sights lowered in Sunday’s Meld Stakes at the Curragh.
John Oxx has left the lightly-raced colt in the 10-furlong Group Three at the six-day stage after he collected some decent prize money when fourth of five behind Australia in last month’s Classic.
Oxx also has Qewy among the 12 possibles while Aidan O’Brien can choose from Newmarket July meeting winner Table Rock, Festive Cheer and Palace.
Festive Cheer was one of two supplementary entries along with Paul Deegan’s Prince Of All.
Dermot Weld is double-handed with Afternoon Sunlight and Edelmira with Parish Hall, Manalapan, Alive Alive Oh and Magnolia Beach completing the dozen.
Alive Alive Oh, Afternoon Sunlight and Palace have also been left in the Group Two Kilboy Estate Stakes on the same card.
* John Gosden’s talented three-year-old Muwaary is set to be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering an injury when finishing fifth in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on Monday.
The Oasis Dream colt won his first two starts before finishing fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas and was then narrowly denied by fellow Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned runner Mustajeeb in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He returned to Group One level in France on Monday and while he ran with credit, beaten just three lengths, he is unlikely to be back in action until 2015.
* Derby runner-up Kingston Hill will make his next start at York’s Ebor meeting, with the ground determining whether he returns to competing against his own age group in the Great Voltigeur or continues against the older horses in the Juddmonte International.
His trainer Roger Varian on Tuesday outlined a “loose plan” for the son of Mastercraftsman, who acquitted himself well in his first encounter with his seniors when finishing a staying-on fourth to Mukhadram in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes over 1m2f at Sandown.
Racing on his unfavoured fast ground that day, Kingston Hill was doing all his best work at the finish when beaten four lengths and he could be set for a return to 1m4f.
“We took Kingston Hill out of the King George at Ascot and he’s having an easy time just now,” said Varian. “A loose plan for him is that if the ground were good at York we could run him in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, but if it was soft he could go in the Group 1 Juddmonte International. He’s entered in both.”
* Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man has been retired from racing due to injury. He will stand as a stallion in Kentucky according to his trainer Kathy Ritvo.
