Oaks pair to renew rivalry

Aidan O’Brien’s Moonstone and John Oxx’s Katiyra, the second and third behind Look Here at Epsom, are set to lock horns again in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday.

Both were put well in their place by Ralph Beckett’s charge in the Vodafone Oaks but as she will not be in Ireland, they hold strong claims of claiming a Classic.

As usual, O’Brien is mob-handed at this stage with seven of the 18 possibles housed at his all-conquering Ballydoyle yard, with Adored and the once-raced maiden winner Gentle On My Mind being other interesting contenders.

Mad About You, second in the Pretty Polly, and Chinese White, unplaced at Epsom, give Dermot Weld a strong hand while Jim Bolger, the man to follow this season, can choose from Ard Fheis and Prima Luce but he decided against supplementing Lush Lashes.

Andre Fabre has a fascinating contender in Gagnoa, second behind Zarkava in the French Oaks last time.

British interests rest with Brian Meehan’s Icon Project, Rae Guest’s Rosa Grace and Mick Quinlan’s Silk Affair.