Sariska and Midday to clash again in Irish Oaks
Epsom Oaks winner Sariska, with Jamie Spencer up, (left) and runner-up Midday (Tom Queally) are set to renew rivalry in Sunday's Irish Oaks at the Curragh
Wednesday July 08 2009
Newmarket trainer Michael Bell's latest Classic winner Sariska is undisputed ante-post favourite to complete the English-Irish Oaks double at the Curragh on Sunday, where she could face a maximum 11 rivals.
Both this regular mount of Tipperary-born Jamie Spencer and fellow Newmarket raider Midday from Henry Cecil's yard, which Sariska just defeated at Epsom, were supplemented yesterday for the Darley promotion.
Their connections were happy to fork out €50,000 apiece to tee up the eagerly awaited Curragh rematch after only a head separated them in the Investec Oaks.
Betting-wise, this pair dominate the initial prices issued by the main bookmakers on a race that has gone to champion trainer Aidan O'Brien for the past three seasons but would seem to be destined for export this weekend.
Previously successful too in the Musidora Stakes at York, Sariska is odds-on at 4/5 with Paddy Power to emerge in front again, but Bell's charge is an even-money chance with Hills and on offer at 11/10 with Cashmans.
The last-named Cork firm are shortest, however, at 15/8 about the Oasis Dream filly Midday's prospects of gaining her revenge on Irish soil as she's a 3/1 chance with Paddy Power and at 5/2 in the initial Hills list.
The home defence according to these layers principally rests with John Oxx's Beauty O'Gwaun and the Dermot Weld-trained Grace O'Malley, winners of Group Three events at Naas and Cork respectively last time out. There's a greater disparity regarding Beauty O'Gwaun's odds than those of Grace O'Malley -- which is shortest at 9/1 with Hills and in double figures elsewhere -- as her odds vary from 7/2 (Hills), 9/2 (Powers) and 7/1 (Cashmans).
The in-form Richard Hannon stable could back up the English challenge with Epsom fifth The Miniver Rose while Jim Bolger's Oh Goodness Me, two places further in arrears there, can try her luck again too.
The ground at the Curragh was described yesterday as yielding to soft with a forecast for further showery conditions later in the week as the Oaks meeting regrettably clashes with the Kildare-Dublin Leinster football final.
The game will be shown live throughout the enclosure and, in a bid to attract fans, the Curragh are offering reduced admission of €10 as well as a free Ladbrokes bet to those wearing Kildare or Dublin jerseys.
The main race of the day isn't the only contest being targeted by some of the leading English trainers as Yorkshire-based Karl Burke can choose between Reignier and Silenceofthewind for the Anglesey Stakes. David Nicholls, who has prospered with his sprinters in this country, may saddle Fol Hollow and Strike Up The Band against Frank Oakes' multiple scorer Mountain Coral in the Ladbrokes Rockingham Handicap.
Meanwhile, plans for Sea The Stars for the rest of the year could be discussed in the next few days. Races such as the Juddmonte International at York next month and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September are among the options likely to be considered for the triple Group One winner.
The brilliant colt became the first horse since Nashwan 20 years ago to complete the English 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Coral-Eclipse treble when successful in the last at Sandown on Saturday.
answers
"It's all in the mix. We haven't had the conversation yet about plans for the rest of the year. Within a few days we'll have got the answers to that," said trainer John Oxx.
The Currabeg handler reported the son of Cape Cross to have taken his exertions at Sandown on Saturday in typical fashion.
"He's come out of the race the same as usual," Oxx said. "He's fresh and well, he's picking up well each day and behaving like he normally does after a race in terms of his weight gain, his appetite and all that -- no problems at all."
With the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp described as an unlikely target, Oxx's colt has been taken out of the betting for October's showpiece by Ladbrokes.
- Damien McElroy
