Three of the first four horses home in the Epsom Derby are in line to clash once again in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh this weekend.
Aidan O’Brien’s European classic haul stands at 99 after the battling success of Auguste Rodin at Epsom and he heads the trainer’s five remaining entries in the €1.25m race, the first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to be run on a Sunday since 2011 and the centrepiece on an eight-race card which is a Tote World Pool event for the first time.
Auguste Rodin would be bidding to give Ryan Moore his first win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and if successful, would become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand in 2016. Among those standing in his way could be his own stable companions Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera and San Antonio.
However, John Murphy’s White Birch, a first ride in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for Dylan Browne McMonagle, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O’Brien’s Epsom Derby hero.
Jessica Harrington opened up her yard to photographers and media yesterday as Sprewell was put through the finishing touches to his preparation.
There would be few more popular winners on Sunday than Harrington who would be landing the Irish Derby for the first time after winning two other Irish Classics at the Curragh and the big three of the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase on both sides of the Irish Sea.
She has been through treatment and surgery for Breast Cancer since last October but feels gere energy is now back and that she has come through the worst of it.
A win on Sunday would bring the house down.
Also standing their ground ahead of Friday’s final declaration stage are the Dermot Weld-trained Knight To King, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on his debut, Joseph O’Brien’s Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up And Under, the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Proud And Regal and the Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay.
Elsewhere on Sunday’s card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Supersonic Man has been added to the field in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes which also includes Adrian Murray’s Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force which could renew rivalry with Aidan O’Brien’s His Majesty which finished fourth behind him in the Norfolk Stakes.
Meanwhile, at the Curragh on Saturday, a field of 14 horses, including last week’s Ribblesdale winner Warm Heart, trained by Aidan O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien’s Above The Curve, the Jim Bolger-trained Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra, the George Boughey-trained Via Sistina and Hughie Morrison’s Stay Alert are among the 14 horses remaining in the Group 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes while nine, including Albany Stakes runner-up Matrika and the Ed Walker-trained Miss Roberts, go forward for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, winner of last year’s Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, is set to reappear in the Group 3 Paddy Power International Stakes.
Image credit: James Crombie, Sportsfile
