Sariska, Midday set to clash in Irish Oaks

Khalid Abdullah's MIDDAY (Oasis Dream [GB]) is set for a rematch with her

Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) conqueror SARISKA (Pivotal) after the connections of both

fillies paid the €50,000 supplementary entry

fee for Sunday's Irish Oaks (Ire-G1). Beaten a head by Lady Bamford's homebred

in the June 5 classic, the Henry Cecil-trained Midday will bid to provide her

conditioner with a fourth renewal of the Curragh classic.

"She's pleased Henry and it's full steam ahead for Sunday," the

owner/breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. "There is no such

thing as a two-horse race and there are plenty of others in it, but they look

the two principals. We have got a head to find, but it's going to be very

interesting, and Midday deserves another chance."

"I spoke to (General Manager) Paul Hensey at the Curragh this morning and

they've had quite a bit of rain, so it is yielding and on the soft side at the

moment, but the forecast is good until Saturday," Grimthorpe added. "We'll wait

to see whether there is more rain or not then, but I would think by the sounds

of it that it is going to be good or just on the easy side of good, which would

be acceptable for us."

Alongside the two heavyweight additions to the 1 1/2-mile classic are 10

other fillies, including the Epsom Oaks fifth and seventh THE MINIVER ROSE (High

Chaparral [Ire]), from the Richard Hannon stable, and OH GOODNESS ME (Galileo

[Ire]), who is the sole representative of the Jim Bolger yard. Aidan O'Brien and

John Oxx have left in a duo apiece, with the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1) sixth

ROMAN EMPRESS (Sadler's Wells) and Blue Wind S. (Ire-G3) heroine BEAUTY O' GWAUN

(Rainbow Quest) their chief protagonists, respectively.