The Irish Oaks, the fourth Irish Classic of the season, is on the horizon. The three-year-old filly race, which is the Irish equivalent of the famous English Oaks — ran at Epsom Downs each year — attracts some the best horses from Ireland, England and France to the Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare.
In more recent years, especially since the turn of the millennium, horses completing the Epsom-Irish Oaks double in the same year has become more and more common, and renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien will be hoping that Snowfall, who is the heavy favourite to win the one-mile race with sites like Smarkets, can add her name to the list of double winners.
That said, the Irish trainer always has a strong contingent of horses in the top races, and this one on Saturday is no different. So, read on as we take a look at some of O’Brien’s best chances of victory in the Irish Oaks.
Snowfall – 4/7
By O’Brien’s extremely high standards, Snowfall had a rather disappointing maiden flat season last year. The Japanese-bred horse won just one of her eight races in 2020, an Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh. However, she has started this season fantastically, winning the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York from 14/1, and Snowfall backed that victory up with another surprise win in the Oaks at Epsom, where Frankie Dettori guided her to a 16-length triumph. After that performance, it’s no surprise that she’s the odds-on favourite and the one to beat at the Curragh.
Joan Of Arc – 6/1
Joan Of Arc only hit the turf for the first time back in November, when she was beaten by the nose of Hazel at Dundalk, but she has won three of her five races since then, including the Group 1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly in France. After finishing a mere shorthead behind Empress Josephine in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh back in May, she could really give her stablemate Snowfall a run for her money on Saturday, and with more tempting odds of 6/1, she will likely be well backed by the bettors.
Santa Barbara – 6/1
With Santa Barbara also available at 6/1, O’Brien’s strong contingent of horses really are leading the way in the Irish Oaks betting market. However, unlike her stablemates, the three-year-old’s form has left a lot to be desired so far this season, and there’s little to indicate that she is about to stun the heavy favourite. Santa Barbara won her maiden race at the Curragh back in September, but has failed to kick on since. As the joint favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, she disappointingly came in fourth and it was a similar story in the Oaks, where she was the 5/2 favourite before finishing fifth. A victory last time out in the US-based Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes was a much better showing from Santa Barbara.
Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Empress Josephine, High Heels and 1,000 Guineas victor Mother Earth are all 12/1 shots, whilst Divinely is slightly further out at 14/1. The likes of Monday, Willow, Cartouche and Queen’s Speech and so on are unlikely to make the final card.