Irish Oaks weekend at the Curragh

Saturday, 21 July 2012: Saturday's highlight is something of a lowlight as there are only 3 entries for the G3 Minstrel Stakes over 1400m.


So where are all the horses? There's prize money going begging and surely if all we hear about the economy is only partly true there must be many owners and trainers out there in need of a bit of it. John Oxx's Takkar should win if he remains on all 4 feet.

On Sunday the Kilboy Estate Stakes G3 for the girls is over 1800m and has at least got 7 runners it. The unbeaten Abdullah filly Caponata in the hands of Dermot Weld is 2/1, the O'Briens' Up on 10/3, the Aga Khan's Sheballa trained by John Oxx is 9/2, and we have a soft spot for Princess Sinead and she's on 13/2.

The Anglesey Stakes is for 2yo over 1200m and has a field of 6, with the talented O'Brien runner Cristoforo Colombo is oddson at 4/7. Most likely rival is Count of Limonade at 13/2.

The Irish Oaks is headed by two fillies who are unbeaten this season - the local Princess Highway and the English raider Great Heavens. They are ahead in the betting of the English Oaks winner Was for the O'Briens on 11/4.