Earth taking her Shot at Irish Oaks glory

William Haggas is excited to give Royal Ascot heroine Earth Shot a chance of Classic glory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

The Ribblesdale Stakes winner is one of 11 fillies in contention for the Group One contest following Tuesday’s confirmation stage and while Haggas would have preferred to see more rain in the build-up, he feels his Wathnan Racing-owned runner deserves her place in the field.

“Everything seems in order with her, she seems very well and I’m looking forward to her,” the trainer told the Press Association.

“She is just improving with every run, which is nice, and I’ve always felt she would be even better with a bit more cut in the ground, but it doesn’t look like it is going to rain in Ireland, which is a shame, but she’ll enjoy the track.

“I haven’t actually spoken to them yet about the ground, but I’m sure they’ll be putting some water on.”

Joseph O’Brien will give his brilliant Epsom winner Thundering On the opportunity to complete an Oaks double after coming up short against her elders in the Pretty Polly Stakes three weeks ago.

The Owning Hill handler is also set to saddle Johanna Walsh, who was a head second to Earth Shot at Ascot, and has supplemented the unbeaten Group Three winner Rebel Moon.

The latter is one of three additions to the race along with David Menuisier’s French Oaks third Inis Mor and the Jim Bolger-trained Sparan Nua, who was last seen landing the Munster Oaks at Cork for owners Newton Anner Stud Farm Ltd.

Newtown Anner’s racing manager, P J Colville, said: “It is going to be a tough ask, but there is only one Irish Oaks so we will have a go. It is definitely the right race for us at this time, if we are good enough.

“She worked well this morning so Jim was happy. It will be beautiful good ground and the Curragh do a great job.

“She already has a Group Three in the bag so you can have a go at these bigger races now.”

Aidan O’Brien won his eighth Irish Oaks last season with Minnie Hauk and he is responsible for the remaining five contenders in Amelia Earhart, Beautify, Cameo, Composing and Sugar Island.