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English Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk will bid to complete the Epsom-Curragh double this coming Saturday as Aidan O'Brien's eleventh Epsom Oaks winner will bid to become his eighth successful filly in the Irish classic.
Last victorious in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks in 2023 with Epsom runner-up Savethelastdance, Minnie Hauk spearheads a six strong challenge for the champion trainer who also has left in Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl, a subsequent winner of the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend.
O'Brien's team also features Prix de Diane runner-up Bedtime Story, Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily.
As a jockey Johnny Murtagh won the Juddmonte Irish Oaks on six occasions, twice for O'Brien on Peeping Fawn and Moonstone, but now The Curragh-based Murtagh will bid to win it for the first time as a trainer courtesy of Subsonic.
The Newtown Anner Stud-owned daughter of Lope De Vega is still a maiden after two starts but was only half a length behind Minnie Hauk on debut and will bid to open her account in style in Saturday's €500,000 showpiece.
The Juddmonte Irish Oaks eluded Joseph O'Brien during his time as a jockey but he too will attempt to add the race to his portfolio of big race wins as a trainer this weekend with Wemighttakedlongway. The daughter of Australia was fourth in both the Epsom Oaks behind Minnie Hauk and in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes behind Whirl.
Saturday's big race entries are completed by the Fozzy Stack-trained Bay Colony.
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Six different trainers have won the Gain Railway Stakes in the last six years and while Aidan O'Brien unsurprisingly dominates the entries some of the trainers who have enjoyed success in the race previously will be hoping for more come this weekend.
O'Brien can choose from Queen Mary Stakes winner True Love, Curragh maiden winner Flushing Meadows, First Approach and Puerto Rico, while his son Joseph will look for a first win in the race when saddling Curragh winner Green Sense.
Adrian Murray enjoyed big race success with Bucanero Fuerte in this race two years ago and this time around is likely to be represented by Power Blue, while Ger Lyons who was successful with Siskin in 2019 relies on Derby weekend winner Learntodiscover.
Victory in this race for The Piper's Call would be a red-letter day for Ireland's youngest trainer and Newbridge native Danny McLoughlin who is set to saddle the son of Ten Sovereigns in the Group 2 contest.
Sapphire Stakes
Bucanero Fuerte will chase more Group 2 glory on this card as he is among 16 entries for the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes alongside his stable companion Arizona Blaze.
The five-furlong contest has attracted British-trained interest from the Ed Walker-trained Mgheera, Nighteyes for David O'Meara, Tom Clover's Rogue Lightning and the recent Sandown winner Rumstar for Jonathan Portman.
Breeders' Cup hero Magnum Force is also among the field for trainer Ger Lyons while Andrew Slattery holds a strong hand in the €120,000 event with Easy and Powerful Nation.
Candidates for the final Irish classic of the season will undoubtedly be found in the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup as 15 runners remain in the Group 2.
Joseph O'Brien holds a strong hand with Al Riffa and Uxmal, while the Paddy Twomey-trained Beechwood is another intriguing inclusion.
Old favourite Big Gossey heads the field for the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap as he bids to win the race for a second year in a row, while Canon's House is on a four-timer for Michael & David Easterby.
The feature race on Sunday's card is the Group 2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes in which Vespertilio will look to follow up her Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash win on Derby weekend with stiff opposition from Johnny Murtagh's Chicago Critic and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Diego Velazquez.
Thirteen entries go forward for the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes in which Paddy Twomey holds a strong hand with Beechwood, One Look and Purple Lily all included by the trainer, while Sir Mark Prescott may send over Tasmania and Ralph Beckett has the option of running Doha in the valuable fillies prize.
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