William Haggas is excited to give Royal Ascot heroine Earth Shot (Time Test) a shot at Classic glory in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.
The G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner is one of 11 fillies in contention for the Group 1 contest following Tuesday's confirmation stage. While Haggas would have preferred to see more rain in the build-up, he is confident that the 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,” said Haggas. “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. It doesn't look like it is going to rain in Ireland, which is a shame, but she'll enjoy the track.”
He added, “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 (Frankel) the opportunity to complete an Oaks double after coming up short against her elders in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes three weeks ago.
The Owning Hill handler is also set to saddle Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars), who was a head second to Earth Shot in the Ribblesdale, plus the unbeaten G3 Jannah Rose Stakes winner Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega), who has been supplemented at a cost of €50,000.
The latter is one of three additions to the race, along with David Menuisier's G1 Prix de Diane third Inis Mor (Galiway) and the Jim Bolger-trained Sparan Nua (Dawn Approach), who was last seen landing the G3 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 3 in the bag, so you can have a go at these bigger races now.”
Aidan O'Brien won his eighth Irish Oaks with Minnie Hauk in 2025 and is responsible for the remaining five contenders in Amelia Earhart (Camelot), Beautify (Wootton Bassett), Cameo (Wootton Bassett), Composing (Wootton Bassett) and Sugar Island (Dubawi).
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