Irish Oaks: Where Did They Come From?

[Wandering Eyes]

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson
   A field of eight make up Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, and a strong Irish contingent faces just one English challenger, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Aidan O'Brien runs four fillies, including the favourite, Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The Aga Khan homebred Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is another who is taking her chance in this 1 1/2-mile Classic at the Curragh, and will attempt to become the third winner for her owner/breeder after Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 1997 and Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) in 2005.

 

AZAZAT (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Azama (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Owner: H H Aga Khan
Breeder: His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S C
Trainer: Dermot Weld
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Out of an unraced half-sister to the top-class Azamour (Ire), this lightly-raced filly broke her maiden at Leopardstown in May and was then runner-up in the G3 Munster Oaks last month. She's clearly progressive but this is a big step up.

 

The feature Group 3 Munster Oaks goes to the classy Rosscarbery at @corkracecourse as she sees off the gutsy Azazat inside the final furlong to prevail in the hands of @wjlee24786 for trainer @paddytwomey pic.twitter.com/JJaROlVWC1

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 16, 2023

 

BE HAPPY (IRE), Camelot (GB)–Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Badges, Ltd. & Longfield Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: 340,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A sister to the Group 3-placed Hector De Maris (Ire), she counts the influential Allez Les Trois as her third dam. Be Happy won on debut last September over a mile and has been placed in her only two starts this season in the G3 Prix Penelope and Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial. Place claims.

 

BLUESTOCKING (GB), Camelot (GB)–Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (East), Ltd.
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: With only three starts to her name, this daughter of the G1 Matron S. winner Emulous is the least experienced of the octet but is clearly well regarded and should step forward again from her third-place finish in the G2 Ribblesdale S. She was beaten only a head by Warm Heart in her seasonal debut at Newbury.

 

COMHRA (IRE), Vocalised–Gold Mirage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Comhra Partnership
Breeder/Trainer: Jim Bolger
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Her full-sister Cimeara (Ire)won the G3 Stanerra S. along with two Listed races at 1m4f and 1m6f, and half-brother Fiscal Rules (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was fifth in the Irish Derby. A maiden winner and Group 3-placed in the May of her juvenile season, Comhra has been winless this season in four starts this year but was less than two lengths behind Tahiyra (Ire) when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

 

LIBRARY (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Words (Ire) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: She is out of a G3 Munster Oaks heroine, herself a half-sister to group winner and G1 Derby second US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Her second dam won the 2008 edition of this race. L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) was second in the 2003 edition and shares Library's third dam. It is not out of the question that a steep improvement is possible.

 

LUMIERE ROCK (IRE), Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Last Gold (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire})
Owner: Michael O'Flynn
Breeder: The Last Partnership
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Sales History: 55,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Already a juvenile Group 3 winner, this filly has turned in back-to-back runner-up efforts in the G3 Staffordstown Stud S. and G2 Ribblesdale S. Her dam is a half-sister to Deep Impact (Jpn) Group 3 winners Akihiro (Jpn) and Bartaba (Fr). Lumiere Rock is likely to take a slice of the pie, without running off with the whole dessert.

 

SAVETHELASTDANCE (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Daddy's Lil Darling (Scat Daddy)
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg
Breeder: Daddys Lil Darling Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan' O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Out of an GI American Oaks heroine, this filly is also related to GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday). Her runner-up performance in the G1 Oaks looks even better in hindsight, after the winner, Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), ran third in the G1 Eclipse a fortnight ago. The likeliest winner.

 

WARM HEART (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A winner of her last three starts including the G2 Ribblesdale S., the full-sister to the group-placed Celestial Object (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a daughter of the accomplished triple Australian top-level winner Sea Siren. Kin to G1 Robert Sangster victress Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and is one of the leading fancies.

 

Two sharp fillies!

Bluestocking was a willing nemesis, but Warm Heart (Galileo) had just enough in the Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes @NewburyRacing

Expect both horses to be cut in price for the Oaks @EpsomRacecourse … pic.twitter.com/GsXzDis4bi

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 20, 2023

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