One Qualifier

Sunday's 150th renewal of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh had looked for a while as if it could be a target for many of the season's leading fillies, but after Monday's declaration and Friday's confirmation stage the representation has been whittled down to just one: the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Had it not been for owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's decision to supplement on Monday there would have been none of that sex lining up, as the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was absent from the final list. Despite Jim Bolger's assertion that the latter would be taking on the colts prior to her second in last Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot, her withdrawal leaves Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) as the lone Godolphin representative. Of all the second-entries made last month–which also included another high-profile filly in the G1 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})–Jack Hobbs is the only one to take his chance. Qualify, who bids to emulate Salsabil (Ire) and Balanchine in completing the Oaks-Irish Derby double, forms part of a four-pronged attack from Ballydoyle and will be reunited with her Epsom jockey Colm O'Donoghue, while Ryan Moore will partner the G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Paul Hensey, The Curragh's general manager, was satisfied with the final field when speaking on Friday. “We've the second, third and fourth from Epsom, the second horse from the Prix du Jockey Club, the winner of the Epsom Oaks, the winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial and we've got an unbeaten Aga Khan horse with Dermot Weld, so we've not done too bad,” he said. “It will be a terrific weekend and we're really looking forward to it.” The going is currently good-to-firm, with further watering a possibility. “We continued to water through the day and I suspect we will water again on Friday, probably the Derby track again on fresh ground for Saturday,” he continued. “We are expecting some rain overnight, maybe five millimeters, so we will evaluate the whole situation in the morning and see how much more we need to do.”