Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been supplemented for the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday, along with course winner Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Trained by David O'Meara, Lava Stream was rated just 74 at the start of the season, but she has since been successful in a handicap at Doncaster and a Listed contest at Goodwood before faring best of the rest behind Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB})–the ante-post favourite for Saturday's Classic–at Royal Ascot.
Beaten just a neck on the last occasion, Lave Stream is now set to test the waters at the top level for the first time at the Curragh, having been supplemented at a cost of €50,000 on Tuesday by owners Elwick Stud.
“We just thought with the Ribblesdale form being so strong and the winner of the Ribblesdale being favourite for the Irish Oaks, we may as well take our chance,” said stud manager Gary Moore.
“There's only a couple of Oaks you want to win. This is one of them and you're able to take on three-year-olds rather than waiting to take on older fillies in the Yorkshire Oaks next time.
“She goes on any ground–the ground won't bother at all. Even if she gets placed it would be amazing, for the stud, for David, for everyone. We're hoping that we're going over there with a fighting chance.”
The addition of Lava Stream and Naas Listed winner Hanalia takes the number of possible runners in the Classic up to 18. Paddy Power make Port Fairy their 11-4 favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with an eighth win in the race, with the Willie Mullins-trained Lope De Lilas (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) next in the betting at 4-1 as she prepares to carry the Wathnan Racing colours for the first time.
David Menuisier's G1 Oaks third War Chimes (Fr) (Summer Front), Port Fairy's stable-mate Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Gavin Hernon's G1 Prix de Diane fifth Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) are other notable contenders, while Paddy Twomey is looking forward to saddling Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) after she stayed on to finish fifth in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas.
“Purple Lily has been trained very much with the Irish Oaks in mind and we're looking forward to Saturday with her,” said Twomey.
“It's a step into the unknown [over a mile and a half], but her overall form is very good and the filly she ran against over a mile and a quarter [Ezeliya] ended up the top of generation in Epsom. I think there's every chance she'll stay.”
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