Thundering On can return to winning ways at the Curragh
Thundering On and Dylan Browne McMonagle win for trainer Joseph O'Brien from Legacy Link. Pic: Healy Racing.
On a sensational weekend of sporting activity, Thundering On can bounce back to winning ways in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
A visually spectacular winner of the Epsom Oaks on the back of an emphatic Group 3 win at Navan, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Frankel filly was below her best when fourth to her elders in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 10 furlongs last month.
She was found to be coughing post-race and while O’Brien dismissed that issue as “nothing serious”, it surely played some sort of part in her inability to quicken when things began to get serious.
The return to a mile and a half should suit and if she replicates the stellar performance she produced at Epsom she will surely become the 17th filly to complete the English-Irish Oaks double.
One slight worry is the possibility that it was the fast ground at the Curragh last month that proved Thundering On’s undoing.
Conditions will be at least as quick this weekend and if she’s vulnerable on that front, UK raider Earth Shot looks best placed to take advantage.
The daughter of Time Test comes here on the back of a narrow victory over Johanna Walsh in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks sure to run a big race for William Haggas, who won this race with Sea Of Class in 2018.
This assignment demands more but she has the potential to find further improvement.
The unbeaten and supplemented Jim Bolger-trained Sparan Nua can also hit the frame.
Elsewhere on Saturday’s card, the Group 2 Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes can go for export with British visitors Rosy Affair and Jakajaro fancied to fight out the finish.
Just a nose separated the pair when they finished fourth and fifth in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and there's unlikely to be much in it again here. Narrow preference is for the George Boughey-trained Rosy Affair to get the better of the argument once more.
The other Group 2 on Saturday’s card is the GAIN Railway Stakes, a race Aidan O’Brien can claim for a record-extending 16th time.
On jockey bookings Confucius is the Ballydoyle first string this year but he has proven costly to follow to date, winning just one of his four career starts.
For that reason, a chance is taken on stablemate Carry The Flag landing the spoils for Wayne Lordan.
Reeled in late by subsequent Coventry winner Great Barrier Reef in Marble Hill over course and distance in May, Carry The Flag disappointed over five furlongs when ninth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but the No Nay Never colt got back to winning ways over the same trip at Naas two weeks ago.
He steps back up to six furlongs for this contest and could be hard to beat if the application of first-time headgear ekes out a little improvement.
One Look is worth more than a passing glance in the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes.
Victorious in this race last season, the Paddy Twomey-trained five-year-old comes here on the back of a career-best performance when second to Estrange in the Pretty Polly and will be impossible to beat if she rocks up in the same form back down in grade.
Aidan O’Brien looks set to dominate the early part of Sunday’s eight-race card but it’s unlikely any Ballydoyle winner will get a reception comparable to one Curragh specialist Big Gossey will receive if he prevails in the Group 2 Glenroyal Hotel And Shoda Cafe Minstrel Stakes.
The Charles O’Brien-trained nine-year-old brought the house down when claiming his 10th Curragh success on Irish Derby day and he may be able to get the better of last season’s Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner Power Blue this time.
In the 1xBet.ie Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup, the other Group 2 on Sunday’s card, Illinois, last seen winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, can get the better of Al Riffa.
1.10 Anchor Road
1.40 Vishaya
2.15 One Look (Nap)
2.50 Headmaster
3.25 Rosy Affair
4.00 Carry The Flag
4.35 Thundering On (NB)
5.10 Vanir
5.45 Real Encounter
1.10 Porto Vecchio
1.40 Nautic Star
2.15 Nyra
2.50 Dark Ace
3.25 Jakajaro
4.00 Immortal Guard
4.35 Earth Shot
5.10 Yousaynothingatall
5.45 Sovereign Cry
1.40 Bold Commander
2.10 White Sand Beach
2.40 Ibelieveicanfly
3.15 Big Gossey (Nap)
3.50 Mallavelly
4.25 Illinois (NB)
5.00 Tradewinds
5.30 Pierre Grosse
1.40 Litmus Test
2.10 Mathoura
2.40 Alpine Wedding
3.15 Power Blue
3.50 Kirkland Sioux
4.25 Al Riffa
5.00 Lars Soldier
5.30 Abbotsford.
