Black-Type Analysis: Irish Oaks Is Minnie Hauk’s To Lose

[Wandering Eyes]

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €290,000, 3yo, f, 12fT

Field: Bay Colony (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Subsonic (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Wemighttakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Few will bet against Minnie Hauk completing the Oaks double in this impoverished field which doesn't deserve its Classic status. Only the well-beaten Oaks fourth Wemightakedlongway and a relative miracle stands in the way of Ballydoyle's Epsom heroine and it will be one of the biggest upsets of recent times if she can't get the job done. This race says more about the state of modern European racing than it does about the protagonists, three of which come from the long odds-on favourite's own yard and have been found wanting of late. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 14:35, GAIN RAILWAY STAKES-G2, €72,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Learntodiscover (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never).

TDN Verdict: This is slightly more of a poser than the farcical feature, despite having just four runners led by Ballydoyle's Queen Mary winner True Love. More macho than most colts, she looks to dominate the Marble Hill runner-up and Coventry fifth Power Blue and last month's course-and-distance maiden one-two Learntodiscover and Puerto Rico, with the latter representing Rosegreen's boys' brigade. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, BARBERSTOWN CASTLE SAPPHIRE STAKES-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 5fT

Field: Erosandpsyche (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), Rumstar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), The Highway Rat (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Powerful Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Grande Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus]), Songhai (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: At last, a Group race not in name only. Mgheera won the Temple in the manner of an improved mare and has unfinished business, having been forced out of the King's Stand with a spread plate. She is taken on again by compatriot Rumstar, who was below-par when sixth at Haydock in between taking the Palace House and Sandown Sprint but the three-year-olds could hold the key. Arizona Blaze gave his all in customary style when second in the Commonwealth Cup and will be a tough nut to crack, while the Midsummer Sprint winner Powerful Nation promises to make his mark in this category. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 16:15, MICHAEL JOHN KENNEDY CURRAGH CUP-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 14f 16yT

Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Harbour Wind (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Leinster (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), London City (Justify), Queenstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Uxmal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Shackleton (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

TDN Verdict: A welcome drop in class for Al Riffa, despite this race mysteriously holding the same status as the Hardwicke in which he was a gallant second last month. While the trip is an unknown, the quality gap isn't with Ballydoyle's perpetually-disappointing Shackleton the most likely danger if he can pull his finger out with weight-for-age to help. It is interesting that the Niarchos Family have held on to a six-year-old gelding, but then Uxmal is a Royal Ascot winner whose form figures read well on the face of it. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Newbury, post time: 14:57, THE HALLGARTEN AND NOVUM WINES HACKWOOD STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 6fT

Field: Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Ferrous (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Jarraaf (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), King Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), King's Gamble (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Russet Gold (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: Time for the real Kind Of Blue to stand up, please. Unrecognisable this term, the sprinter seemingly destined to reach even greater heights at four is threatening to head into the abyss and unfortunately this is a category that takes no prisoners. Last year's winner Elite Status is another going the wrong way and this really could be a straightforward task for the King's Stand regular Regional, who is too hardened to give any quarter. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 17:00, GOFFS PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €119,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Moojeed (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tadej (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Imperial Me Cen (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}).

TDN Verdict: France has won just one of the last 11 renewals and is represented by Moojeed and Imperial Me Cen, who finished first and third when meeting over this course and distance in last month's G3 Prix du Bois. Tadej was just over five lengths ahead of Super Soldier when both ran unplaced in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes and should hold the edge once more. Green Sense is the only filly on show and comes back off an unplaced effort in the G3 Albany Stakes at the Royal meet. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Curragh, post time: 15:40, ROMANISED MINSTREL STAKES-G2, €72,000, 3yo/up, 7fT

Field: Big Gossey (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Room Service (Ire) (Kodi Bear {GB}), Queen Of Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), East Hampton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Take out his Queen Anne no-show and Diego Velazquez remains an exciting older miler with the memory of his Meld and Solonaway wins still relatively fresh. Sharpened up over seven here, he encounters the smart filly Vespertilio who may have enjoyed a much-needed confidence boost when taking the six-furlong Listed Dash Stakes here last month. Last year's Jersey third Chicago Critic popped up again last time when taking Leopardstown's Listed Amethyst Stakes and is one of the other contenders. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Curragh, post time: 14:30, AL SHIRA'AA RACING MEADOW COURT STAKES-G3, €42,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT

Field: Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Azada (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Beechwood (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Indigo Five (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Naomi Lapaglia (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), Soft Winds (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Tasmania (Ger) (Australia {GB}), Uluru (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Having pulled off the notable feat of landing the 2023 Goffs Million on her racecourse debut, One Look owes connections nothing especially after winning the G3 Park Express Stakes and giving Porta Fortuna something to think about in the Ridgewood Pearl. Higher Leaves is another ready-baked Group 3 winner, having relished the Toulouse mud to take apart the Prix Fille de l'Air in November and she probably needs all of the forecast rain and a bit more. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:50, DARLEY PRIX CHLOE-G3, €73,200, 3yo, f, 9fT

Field: Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Rosa Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security), Paix Des Dames (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), Whataboutism (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Relaxx (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Serving With Style (GB) (Mohaather {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Last term's G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Cathedral has finished fourth in both starts this year and holds solid claims coming back off a career best in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes. Relaxx rates as an obvious danger and returns off a clear-cut success and black-type breakthrough here in last month's Listed Prix de Bagatelle. Serving With Style has failed to fire in two outings since running second in last term's G2 Rockfel Stakes while Rosa Salvaje and Paix Des Dames need to step up on previous black-type efforts. The unexposed Whataboutism is an interesting contender and will bid to provide Andre Fabre with a record sixth renewal. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 17:35, PRIX MESSIDOR-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 8fT

Field: Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Vertbois (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Caramelito (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Siam Paragon (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: April's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau victor Ridari ran with credit when unplaced in both G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club and has an opportunity to regain the winning thread here. He holds fellow sophomore Dos Mukasan on Poulains form. Alcantor, Marhaba Ya Sanafi and Siam Paragon are consistent performers at this level and lead the home defence. The former, along with G2 Prix du Muguet runner-up Vertbois, represents the Andre Fabre stable seeking a record-extending 14th edition. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany, post time: 14:05, GROSSER PREIS DER BBF GRUPPE – FURSTENBERG-RENNEN-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 12fT

Field: Ami De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}), Weltbeste (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Diamond Crown (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), Sweet Summer (Ger) (Waldgeist {GB}), Zauberkonig (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Zauberkonig is the lone sophomore in the field and seeks compensation coming back off a hampered 10th in this month's G1 Deutsches Derby. Padre Palou holds Alpenjager on a line through Flatten The Curve while Weltbeste finished in front of Diamond Crown and Sweet Summer when runner-up in last month's Listed Hamburger Stuten Cup. Ami De Vega brings Scandinavian form to the table and is undefeated in two black-type starts this year. [Sean Cronin].

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