Recent Pretty Polly Stakes winner Iridessa heads a field of ten runners for Saturday’s Kerrygold Irish Oaks at the Curragh following declarations on Thursday morning.
Iridessa is a two-time top-level winner and bids to provide trainer Joseph O’Brien with a first winner in the Classic.
Pink Dogwood was a neck second in the Investec Oaks at Epsom before finishing third behind Iridessa at the Curragh last time, and her trainer Aidan O’Brien is aiming to join Sir Michael Stoute as the leading trainer in the race’s history with a sixth success.
O’Brien also runs Ribblesdale runner-up Fleeting and Stanerra Stakes winner Peach Tree
Britain-based trainers have landed seven of the last ten runnings, including last year with subsequent Arc runner-up Sea Of Class, and are well represented again.
Ribblesdale scorer Star Catcher was supplemented for €40,000 on Tuesday and is the mount of Frankie Dettori, while Ralph Beckett runs the Waverley Racing-owned Antonia De Vega and Manuela De Vega.
Harry Bentley has elected to ride the last-named, who finished fourth in the Investec Oaks when last in action, with Colin Keane partnering Abingdon Stakes winner Antonia De Vega.
Full Finishing list 2018
1st Sea Of Class (W. Haggas,J. Doyle), 2nd Forever Together (A. O'Brien,D. O'Brien), 3rd Mary Tudor (W. McCreery,W. Lee), 4th Bye Bye Baby (A. O'Brien,S. Heffernan), 5th Magic Wand (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 6th Romiyna (D. Weld,D. McDonogh), 7th Tissiak (J. O'Brien,W. Lordan)
Full Runner list 2019
1. Antonia De Vega (R. Beckett,C. Keane), 2. Fleeting (A. O'Brien,D. O'Brien), 3. Iridessa (J. O'Brien,W. Lordan), 4. Manuela De Vega (R. Beckett,H. Bentley), 5. Operatic Export (J. Bolger), 6.Peach Tree (A. O'Brien,S. Heffernan), 7. Pink Dogwood (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 8. Search For A Song (D. Weld,C. Hayes), 9. Star Catcher (J. Gosden,F. Dettori), 10. Trethias (M. Harrington,S. Foley)
Race Info:
Distance: 1m 4f (2,414 metres),Surface: Turf,Track: Right-handed,Qualification: Three-year-old fillies,Weight: 9 st 0 lb,Purse: €400,000 (2018),1st: €228,000