Joe Rendall heads across the Irish Sea to preview action at the Curragh on a quiet weekend for UK racing…
And breathe. With the World Cup over, Wimbledon behind us, a rest day for the Tour de France and the next test-match and Open Championship not starting until Thursday, it’s time for sports fans across the land can to take a well-deserved cooling break. It’s a quiet week for racing too before the King George and Glorious Goodwood take the British turf season through the turn and into its back nine, and if you’re worried that Saturday’s equine fare requires extensive form study (as last weekend’s certainly did) then fear not. Your moment of calm won’t be interrupted for long, as the answer to the Irish Oaks question is really quite simple: Taghrooda.
After-timers are not popular figures amongst the racing fraternity, and so I’ll endeavour to avoid gloating as much as possible when discussing the likely favourite for Saturday’s race. It’s fair to say that from the minute Taghrooda passed the post in her Newmarket maiden in September, she had her card marked for Epsom by those in Timeform house. Via a facile victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes which did nothing to temper the enthusiasm of the Editorial department, she looked the complete package on the big occasion in June and delivered a healthy profit for those who followed our advice of a 33/1 ante-post wager in this year’s Horses To Follow. (That endeavour’s failed then!)
What’s so exciting about Taghrooda is that her Oaks win was only her third career start, and as a result it would be no surprise to see her prove even better than the convincing classic winner she already is. Whilst she was impressive in handling the unique demands at Epsom the more conventional test that awaits her at the Curragh could arguably see her to better effect too, and although she’s likely to go off a very short price, it’s hard to envisage any other outcome than an impressive victory.
Possible future engagements like the King George, the St Leger (her dam stayed a mile-and-three quarters so it seems likely she’ll stay the trip) and even the Arc could be within her grasp and she could well end the season as the first genuinely high-class Oaks winner we’ve seen for a while. As for Saturday, a replication of her Epsom win would be a more than satisfactory stepping stone onto those loftier targets, but with further improvement on the cards those who oppose her should do so extremely cautiously.
As I write this plans for other runners are largely up in the air, but three interesting contenders who merit discussion – even if it’s for later in the season – are Bracelet, Tarfasha and Volume. Bracelet resumed her progress in some style when winning the Ribblesdale last time, improving for the application of a hood and the step up to 12 furlongs having disappointed in the Guineas. That was her first start at middle distances and given she’s by Montjeu and out of Cherry Hinton, it would be no surprise to see her improve significantly if she remains at this trip in the future. She will have to take a big step up if she’s to trouble the favourite but remains an interesting contender for the top middle-distance contests in the fillies’ Pattern schedule.
Tarfasha put in an impressive performance on her seasonal reappearance at Naas, beating older horses to land a Group 3, and came in for significant market support on Oaks day itself. She ran creditably too, knuckling down in the closing stages to take second place behind Taghrooda, although she was never closing on the winner. She may count herself a tad unfortunate to be the same age, sex, and in the same colours as her Epsom conqueror, but longer trips may give her an opportunity to step out of Tagrhooda’s shadow. Tarfasha is bred to stay further than 12 furlongs and if she were to take up her entry in the Irish St Leger she’d rate as an extremely interesting contender. In the short term though, it’s hard to see her reversing the Epsom placings and those looking for an each-way bet are better served to look elsewhere.
You won’t have to look far however, as Volume has rewarded Luca Cumani’s patient approach with a fine three-year-old season so far and looks the most attractive betting alternative at this stage. After winning a Group 3 at Newbury she came an excellent third at Epsom last time and after a slight wobble on the famous Epsom camber there’s reason to suggest she’ll benefit from a return to more even surface. It’s hard to advise with any certainty given the market is yet to become fully formed but those looking for one at slightly bigger odds would do worse than keep her on side.
So there you have it – possibly not going to win any awards for originality, but at least now you can return to recharging your batteries for the second tidal wave of sport that is fast approaching. Relax: Gosden, Hanagan and, most importantly, Taghrooda have it covered.
Recommendations:
2pts win Taghrooda in the Irish Oaks
0.5pt e/w Volume in the Irish Oaks
