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Taghrooda among 15 left in Irish Oaks

Epsom scorer Taghrooda will seek an Oaks double at the Curragh at the weekend (Courtesy of Epsom via Twitter) Fifteen fillies have stood their ground in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday. Taghrooda and Tarfasha, first and second respectively in the Epsom Oaks, feature strongly among the entry, but the pair will face stern opposition from the likes of Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Marvellous. The latter is one of six fillies left in the race from the powerful Ballydoyle stable. "Taghrooda is in great form and will travel over by ferry early on Friday morning," commented a stable spokesman for John Gosden, who trains the filly for Hamdan Al Maktoum. "She should arrive at the Curragh mid-morning on Friday and will have plenty of time to settle in. She has won on good and good to firm ground so hopefully there won't be too much rain in Ireland." Aside from Marvellous, Aidan O'Brien has left Bracelet, Just Gorgeous, Tapestry, Palace and Beyond Brilliance in the race. The latter pair finished first and third, respectively, in a Listed contest and Killarney on Monday evening and running plans regarding the six entries will be taken before final declaration time at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Trainer Pat Shanahan has committed Maid of the Glens to Saturday's race, and is hopeful of a big run from his filly.

"Maid of the Glens will definitely take her chance," Shanahan said. "She won her maiden (over an extended nine furlongs) at Hamilton last month by six lengths despite idling in front and will be well suited by the step up to a mile and a half at the weekend. The quality of opposition may not have been great that day but she could only do what she had to do. She is a tough, improving filly and would appreciate a drop of rain over the coming day."

Avenue Gabriel ran a fine race when keeping on to be fourth behind Marvellous in the Irish One Thousand Guineas, but ran no sort of race when down the field behind Thistle Bird in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh subsequently.

"She just could not handle the fast ground in the Pretty Polly and would need rain if she were to line up on Saturday," trainer Paul Deegan said. "She is a good filly as she showed in the Irish One Thousand Guineas and is in great form."

Apart from Taghrooda, there are also three other British-trained challengers left in the race, namely Richard Hannon's Lustrous, Luca Cumani's Volume and the Mick Channon-trained Nancy From Nairobi. Dermot Weld has also left Vote Often in the race, while Pat Fahy's Ballybacka Queen completes the field.

Bookmakers Paddy Power have installed Taghrooda as their 4-5 favorite.

The ground at the Curragh is currently good-to-firm on the straight course and good-to-firm, firm in places, on the round course. Watering is taking place.

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