Earth Shot

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...

The King must by now be on pretty friendly terms with Aidan O'Brien, the trainer who has spent more time than any in his counting house. On Tuesday he handed him the trainer's prize for the five-furlong sprint named in His Majesty's honour and 48 hours later another was dished out for the longest Group 1 race run in Britain. The Gold Cup, with its 219-year history, is also one of the most cherished races of the week. In these eyes it ranks above all others, and a huge portion...

Darley EBF Fillies' Maiden winner Earth Shot had been second to her stable-mate My Ophelia (Sea The Stars) on her sole start prior to Friday but she took a major step forward on livelier ground at Newmarket to keep the Oaks dream alive for owners Paul and Sally Flatt of Childwickbury Stud. Owner-breeders in their own right, the Flatts bought the daughter of Time Test from Anthony Oppenheimer, whose Classic-breeding credentials have long been proven, and now his Hascombe & Valiant Studs could again be represented at the highest level...