Aidan O'Brien bids to continue his clean sweep of this season's Irish Classics by saddling half of the 12 runners declared for the £225,000 Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks at the Curragh tomorrow. The master of Ballydoyle was responsible for the first three home in the Irish 2000, headed by Black Minnaloushe, Imagine led home an O'Brien 1-3-4 in the 1000 before taking the Vodafone Oaks and the brilliant Galileo followed up his Vodafone Derby triumph with a spectacular success in the Irish equivalent.
Despite having six runners in Sunday's fillies' Classic, O'Brien is by no means certain to be rewarded with a ninth Group One victory of the year. The most fancied of his sextet is Karsavina, the choice of Michael Kinane, but she was just over four lengths back in fourth place when Rebelline took the Group Two Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh two weeks ago.
And the Kevin Prendergast-trained filly, who had earlier finished fifth to Imagine in the Irish 1000, looks the pick of the home contingent. The 10 furlongs that day brought out more improvement in her and she should be just as effective over another quarter-mile.
However, the IR£126,675 first prize could well cross the Irish Sea for the third year running. There are four British raiders, including the Ed Dunlop-duo Lailani and Mot Juste. The former is on the upgrade being unbeaten in four starts this term, but she is taking a big step up in class.
Mot Juste on the other hand won the Newmarket version of the Pretty Polly Stakes before finishing fourth to Imagine at Epsom. On that form she will struggle to beat Relish The Thought as Barry Hills' runner finished three lengths ahead of her in the Vodafone Oaks. But she in turn is held by Time Away, who beat her a length and three-quarters in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over an extended mile and a quarter at York in May.
Time Away, trained by Ed Dunlop's father John, missed Epsom for the French Oaks and did not have the run of the race when third to Aquarelliste at Chantilly. She tackles a mile and a half for the first time but she is bred to get the trip.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
