Irish Oaks 2012

3.20 Curragh

Darley Irish Oaks (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner €232,000

Advice: 4 pts win Great Heavens (15/8 Betfred)

Colliding Worlds: Easy winner of 1m1f Leopardstown maiden on soft ground (2/1, landed a bit of a touch) at Leopardstown after which she was supplemented for this; This far harder than that task and no idea if trip will suit her so left alone.

Devotion: Looked unlucky and ready to offer more at a long trip when placed at Leopardstown in May but tailed at Royal Ascot and well beaten in Oaks so look elsewhere.

Great Heavens: Became one of a number of fillies to mark herself down as a top class performance when stepped up to this distance 2 weeks ago, romping Lancashire Oaks, having come away from Group class older fillies and beaten them easily in the end (had more than winning margin in hand and that in Group 2 company); No reason why she can’t take the beating here, as that form could be best in race, yard in outstanding shape, and goes through the softest of the ground.

Princess Highway: Quickened up nicely to land Leopardstown maiden and won competitive Blue Wind Stakes at Naas in good style, although came on leaps and bounds when romping the Ribblesdale (ground given as good to soft but more likely soft) when she beat Shirocco Star over 6l; Goes with ease and upto this level, although a little flattered by how the race panned out last time (1^st and second went for home a little soon and not sure The Fugue liked the ground) and not sure how heavy ground would suit; Big chance anyway.

Shirocco Star: Ran a blinder in Oaks when second to Was, having been too keen and interrupted at the top of Epsom Hill before failing to get past was by a neck; Slammed into second by Princess Highway at Ascot although she was drawn poorly and had little to no cover all the way ground; Worry that she won’t learn to settle in time for this and that she’s never been on heavy, so fair bit to prove despite her talent.

Twirl: Made up into a good horse this year if not quite fulfilling the group winning ambitions of her Leopardstown maiden win at 2; Well beaten in Musidora, Oaks and Ribblesdale so others make more appeal.

Was: Repaid her sales price (1,200,000gns at Tatterstalls in October 2010) and more when winning Oaks (won well on sole 2011 start; not fully primed when beaten nearly 3l by Princess Highway at Naas on reappearance); That form clearly high class and gives her big chance but had everything fall her way in Oaks with second keen and many others in field either unsuited by slow pace or interrupted by rough race in behind, while Seamie Heffernan gave exceptional ride; Unlikely to have everything fall for her so well and heavy ground puts a huge dampener on enthusiasm for chances.

VERDICT: John Gosden, William Buick and Lady Rothschild lost out by a nose to Danedream yesterday but they can compensate with GREAT HEAVENS, who looked exceptional when wining the Lancashire Oaks last time and has the added security of being the runner who’s arguably best suited towards the ground. She can beat Princess Highway,Shirocco Star, who looked just as good when landing the Ribblesdale, the game Oaks winner Was, and  although all three of them want better ground and it remains to be seen how much of Was’s Oaks win was on pure merit, and Shirocco Star must settle better.