Curragh set to stage Darley Irish Oaks Weekend

Curragh set to stage Darley Irish Oaks Weekend

Haggas excited about Darley Irish Oaks challenge as O'Brien seeks first Curragh Classic of the season

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien will bid to win his first Irish Classic of the 2018 season on Saturday as Royal Ascot winner Magic Wand heads his entries for the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks.

O'Brien has saddled the runner-up in each of the three Irish Classic's at the Curragh so far this year but will be attempting to win the Darley Irish Oaks for a record equalling sixth time with a strong team likely to go forward from his powerful Ballydoyle stable.

"Magic Wand has come out of Ascot well and we've been pleased with her since then," O’Brien said. "She is ready to go to the Curragh for the Irish Oaks and the plan is that Bye Bye Baby and Forever Together will also run there. We also have September in the race and she has been training well following a muscle problem. We'll make a decision on whether or not she'll run later in the week but she is being trained with the Irish Oaks in mind."

The John Gosden-trained Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable was victorious in the Irish Oaks last year and the race has been won by overseas trainers seven times since Sariska was successful in 2009. This year's British challenge is headed by Sea Of Class, a daughter of Sea The Stars, who has won two Listed races this season for trainer William Haggas.

Haggas said on Tuesday morning; "Sea Of Class is in good form, we are very happy with her and she pleased us at Newmarket last week. She's ready to go and hopefully we can get her there in one piece. It will be a tough race but we are looking forward to it and we think that a mile and a half is the trip that she wants now and the Curragh should suit. She is out of a Hernando mare and there is plenty of stamina in the family but she has got speed as well so we are excited. James Doyle has ridden her on all three starts and we are hoping that he'll be over on Saturday."

Curragh-based trainer Willie McCreery could be represented by Liquid Amber and Mary Tudor as he seeks a first Irish Classic winner and Dubai Duty Free Irish Dubai winning trainer Joseph O'Brien is set to saddle Tissiak in Saturday's feature race.

Also on Saturday at the Curragh is the Group 2 Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes for which 15 have stood their ground including the Charlie Appleby-trained D'Bai and the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Patrick's Day.

The weights for the €100,000 Tote Scurry Handicap are headed by course and distance winner Ice Age for Eve Johnson Houghton and the Ger Lyons-trained Ardhoomey, while a promising field of two-year-olds are set to go to post in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse Anglesey Lodge Stakes including the Ballydoyle trio of Fairyland, Fantasy and Sergei Prokofiev.


The Boodles Ladies Derby will also feature on Saturday's action-packed eight race card with last year's winning rider Lisa O'Neill likely to be in high demand.

Darley Irish Oaks Day is also one of the most stylish of the summer with the Boodles Most Stylish Lady in association with Powerscourt Resort & Spa and evoke.ie 

Judges leading lady rider and assistant trainer Kate Harrington and Sybil Mulcahy, editor of evoke.ie will select the overall winner who will win a spectacular prize courtesy of the sponsors.

There is also racing at the Curragh on Sunday with the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes and the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes taking centre stage on another eight race card. A strong British challenge is expected for the Sapphire Stakes with Caspian Prince, Judicial and Muthmir among the list of 15 that stood their ground, while in the Kilboy Estate Stakes a total of 18 have gone forward at the latest entry stage this morning and among the potential runners are Jessica Harrington's I'm So Fancy recent Listed winner Bella Estrella who could represent Dermot Weld.

Darley Irish Oaks:  Paddy Power, betting partner of the Curragh Racecourse: 7-4 Magic Wand, 5-2 Sea of Class, 11-2 Forever Together, 10 September, 12 Magical, 16 Bye Bye Baby, Easter Lily, Liquid Amber, 25 Mary Tudor, Romiyna, 33 Dramatic Queen, Sizzling, Tissiak, 40 Worth Waiting, 66 Park Bloom


Boodles Most Stylish Lady in association with Powerscourt Resort & Spa and evoke.ie 

The main prize includes a dual prize from sponsors Boodles and Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa

 - An ultimate Boodles experience with a champagne appointment at the exclusive Grafton Street store along with a prize up to the value of   

 - €5,000 from their fabulous collection. 

 - Two night's stay in the palatial Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa's Presidential suite, dinner for two in SIKA Restaurant, sumptuous Afternoon Tea for two in the newly refurbished Sugar Loaf Lounge on one day, two treatments in the award winning ESPA spa, one year membership of Powerscourt's Leisure Club, which boasts a Swarovski crystal lit swimming pool and gym and access to the ESPA facilities

 - 2 runners up will receive a luxury overnight stay for two in Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa including breakfast in SIKA overlooking the Sugar Loaf Mountain


Entertainment will continue after the last race with the "Apres Racing Party" featuring Robert Grace and Band. 

Sunday's programme also features the Corinthian Challenge in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund will bring the race day to a close, this is the first in the three race series which also features races at Navan and Leopardstown.  16 riders are expected to line up many who have never ridden in a race previously and include  Rachel Carberry (wife of jockey Paul Carberry),  artist Marina Hamilton, interior designer Louise Lynn and Jason Mallon CEO of Cold Move who sponsor the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh.

The Kildare v Galway game will be shown on screens.

Admission
Saturday 
Adult €20
Student and Senior €12
Under 18s accompanied by an adult Free

Sunday
Adult €15
Student and Senior €10
Under 18s accompanied by an adult Free

Transport

Take Exit 12 off the M7 and follow signs to racecourse

By car - car parking free
By train – free shuttle bus from Kildare Town station
By bus – Dublin Coach provide a race day service – see dublincoach.ie

Hospitality

Dining packages available. Call 045 441205 or email sales@curragh.ie

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