Planned Invasion

Saturday's G1 Darley Irish Oaks at The Curragh has attracted a dozen runners, with Architecture (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) heading the British challenge for the Hugo Palmer stable. Supplemented at a cost of €40,000, the June 3 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up bids to emulate the yard's 2015 winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and bounce back from a latest eighth behind the likely hot favourite Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 16. Sixth in that 12-furlong contest was the stable's May 14 Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. scorer We Are Ninety (Ire) (Thewayyouare), who will be partnered by Covert Love's jockey Pat Smullen with Frankie Dettori on Architecture. “It didn't work out for either of them in the Ribblesdale S., they were both too far back and too wide in a messy, slowly-run race, and they were beaten three lengths and five lengths respectively by Even Song,” their trainer said. “If things go our way, I hope they both stand a good chance.”

Also from Britain and bidding to uphold the Epsom form is the third-placed Harlequeen (GB) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), who has eight lengths to make up on Architecture from that run. “She is in very good form and she didn't surprise me at Epsom, as I expected her to run a big race,” trainer Mick Channon commented. “Silvestre de Sousa is coming over as well and he knows her and that is a big help. She has only had the four runs in her life, but she has improved with each run. It looks a good race, but on her run at Epsom she deserves to take her chance.”

Of the seven withdrawals, by far the most notable was Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but it would have been a surprise had she been declared following her disappointing effort when last in Saturday's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Joseph O'Brien will saddle his first Classic runner, with the exposed maiden Way To My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the biggest outsider of the field with his sister Ana O'Brien on board.