Aidan O'Brien used the word “special” to describe Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) following her stunning success by a record-breaking 16 lengths in the G1 Epsom Oaks, but most would argue that tag did not go far enough to fully quantify what was witnessed on the first Friday in June. Looking more like a freak of nature as she glided by toiling rivals in early straight, the Ballydoyle bombshell out of the portentously-named dam Best In the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) probably needs to do no more than she did there to become the 15th filly to complete a revered double in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. This is not a competitive Classic by any means, with her own stable responsible for half the field and the closest-rated to her being Donnacha O'Brien's June 17 G2 Ribblesdale S. third Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah), who is fully 15 pounds behind. It will almost certainly fall to the Coolmore partners, who have the first four in the betting and the only fillies worthy of being quoted at reasonably short odds, and so there is a responsibility on Snowfall to put on a show to salvage this renewal.
Snowfall would be favourite for this based solely on her emphatic success in York's G3 Musidora S. May 12, but her Epsom tour de force places her in elevated territory and greater tests await further into the season. If there is any achilles heel, it could be that the slower surface she has raced on so far this term is ideal and this quicker going could compromise her, but her pedigree suggests that is highly unlikely. “Last year she was always showing a lot at home–that's why she was running in all those good races–but obviously she has got stronger over the winter,” her trainer said. “Maybe she was a little bit weak or something last year, but we always liked what we saw at home. I know she's been winning on soft ground, but we always thought that nice ground would suit her.”
O'Brien also saddles the June 23 Listed Naas Oaks Trial scorer Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah), whose dam Peeping Fawn (Danehill) took this in 2007, and the Oaks third and Ribblesdale fourth Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is a full-sister to the aforementioned Best In the World. “Willow won a nice trial last time out and she's in good form–we've been happy with her since Naas,” he added. “Divinely had a lovely run around Epsom and a nice run at Ascot and she seems to have been in good form since.”
Nicest, whose dam Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is also an Irish Oaks heroine, lost a shoe in the Ribblesdale but needs an epic jump forward to make a race of it with the favourite while John Kalmanson's Party House (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) also had luck against her when sixth in the Naas Oaks Trial. Like Ballygallon Stud's Mariesque (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who was a place ahead of her there, she looks to have a class chasm to bridge here. The latter's trainer Joseph O'Brien is not waving the white flag already, however.
“Mariesque is a lovely filly that we always hoped would make up into a stakes performer,” he said. “She made a winning return to action in a maiden at Gowran Park and then acquitted herself very well when fifth in the Naas Oaks Trial last month. She was still notably green at Naas and shaped as though this longer trip is what she wants. This is obviously a huge step up in class, but the race has cut up a bit and we're happy to throw her in at the deep end. She has very little to lose and an awful lot to gain, so hopefully she'll acquit herself well.”
Also at The Curragh, the five-furlong G2 Sapphire S. sees Patrick Moyles's May 16 Listed Sole Power Sprint S. and June 9 Listed Midsummer Sprint S. winner Logo Hunter (Ire) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) take on the June 18 G1 Commonwealth Cup third Measure of Magic (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) and the June 26 Listed Dubai Duty Free Dash S. scorer Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in a clash of three sprinters who could yet emerge as Group 1 winners in time. The preceding G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey S. for the juveniles is a storied race staged over the unique trip of six furlongs and 63 yards which is crying out for a star performer to revive its glory days when it played host to Johannesburg, One Cool Cat, Oratorio (Ire) and Myboycharlie (Ire). Perhaps it could be the Ger Lyons-trained Beauty Inspire (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who impressed on his winning debut over a straight six here June 25.
Newbury's Listed Steventon S. features Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was far from disgraced when eighth in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 6. The G3 Hackwood S. is the key contest, with the six-furlong sprint acting as the first start on turf for the Clive Cox-trained 3-year-old Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence) who was third last time in the G3 Chipchase S. at Newcastle June 26. “I'm hoping he can translate his promise and progress on the all-weather across to the turf,” his trainer said. In the £200,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint S., the June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. winner Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) encounters the June 15 G2 Coventry S. third Vintage Clarets (GB) (Ardad {Ire}).
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