RACING CURRAGH SUNDAY:AIDAN O'BRIEN'S domination of Irish racing right now is enough to encourage an almost blind faith in Wonder Of Wonders hitting a notable landmark for the champion trainer in tomorrow's Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
A win for the hot favourite or either of her stable companions would mean a 27th Irish Classic victory for O’Brien, equalling the tally of his Ballydoyle predecessor, the legendary Vincent O’Brien.
That such a remarkable total has come in just 14 years, 21 years shorter than the man generally regarded as the benchmark for training excellence worldwide, is just one statistic that reflects the current overwhelming dominance of Coolmore-Ballydoyle.
There are many others. O’Brien has won all five of Ireland’s Group One races run so far this year, including three of the five Classics. Stan James already make him 13 to 8 to emulate 2008’s clean-sweep of the Irish Classics. Intriguingly they also go just 33 to 1 about O’Brien winning all 12 Group One races in Ireland in 2011.
Throw in a lead of over €2 million in the trainers’ championship here, not to mention Richard Hannon being the only one ahead of him in the British table, and it is easy to see why Wonder Of Wonders is favoured to become O’Brien’s fourth Irish Oaks winner this weekend.
Whether she deserves to be an odds-on favourite, though, is another matter. On bare form after all she does have three-parts of a length to make up on Dancing Rain who beat her in the Epsom Oaks last month under a wonderfully subtle Johnny Murtagh ride.
Plenty has been made since about how Murtagh insured a funereal pace that suited him and few of the others. There was also some evidence that Wonder Of Wonders was less than comfortable on the camber in the straight and should be more at home on the Curragh.
But the fact remains she has ground to make up on Dancing Rain who is attempting to become the third cross-channel-based filly in a row to complete the Epsom-Curragh double.
It might seem contrary on the back of such an argument then to recommend as the value of tomorrow’s race a filly that finished four lengths behind Wonder Of Wonders at Epsom.
Blue Bunting started favourite that day on the back of a dramatic success in the 1,000 Guineas but hardly anything went right for her. She looked one of the worst impacted by the pace and looked to be too far back when the tempo increased.
Frankie Dettori’s disappointment was such he stopped riding close to the line and lost third, which in turn cost him a lengthy ban.
Dettori has won six Irish Classics in the past, including the Oaks twice. The last of them, however, came on Dubawi in the 2,000 Guineas six years ago, also the last of Godolphin’s Classic scores here.
The obvious relish enjoyed by European racing’s other superpower when Rewilding scuppered So You Think at Royal Ascot indicates trumping Coolmore in an Irish Classic sponsored by Sheikh Mohammed’s breeding empire would go down rather well in Dubai.
“I wouldn’t say she was unlucky at Epsom but the pace was too slow,” said trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni yesterday.
“Mile and a half fillies always come from behind and they prefer a fast pace. She has already proved she is a class filly and I think she can do it again.
“Ground won’t matter. We just need the luck.”
Ryan Moore won the Oaks on Snow Fairy last year and is back on Wonder Of Wonders after being claimed by Michael Stoute at Epsom. She does look much the best of the home although Jim Bolger’s Banimpire and Jessica Harrington’s Laughing Lashes are proven Group Two winners.
O’Brien’s decision to leave Wonder Of Wonders go it alone at the Curragh, and keeping the four-time Group One winner Misty For Me in reserve, testifies to the top-flight quality of tomorrow’s favourite. But at the odds, Blue Bunting looks a better punting option.
Sheikh Mohammed’s famous old maroon and white colours had enjoyed conspicuous success in Ireland in the last couple of years and Zip Top made quite an impression on his debut to suggest he can follow up in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes.
The Woodcote winner, Fulbright, is the sole cross-channel-trained runner in the Anglesey but his limitations looked to be well exposed in the Coventry at Ascot.
Jim Bolger could also strike in the Group Three Kilboy Estate Stakes with Claoimh Solais. The three-year-old was beaten by Emulous at Fairyhouse last time but that winner is a very smart sort.
