Irish Racing Report and previewJohn Oxx is on the trail of a third success in the Darley Irish Oaks, but the Curragh trainer accepts his representative Hazarista is up against it in Sunday's big race.
The Aga Khan-owned filly hasn't run since she landed the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Cork in mid-May, and now has to take on some of the best middle distance fillies in Europe.
"She is up against it with the first three from Epsom, and basically we will be delighted if she can get into the money and make the placings," Oxx said yesterday.
"We had wanted to run her in the Noblesse Stakes, but she got a little setback and there was nothing else for her. She wasn't entered at Ascot.
"She has won at a mile and a mile and quarter, so we're hoping she will improve for the mile and a half.
"The dam stayed, but she will have to improve a stone just to get in the money," added Oxx, who won the Oaks with Winona (1998) and Ebadiyla (1997.)
There was little movement in the ante-post market for the Oaks yesterday, with Ouija Board remaining as short as 4 to 6 favourite to complete the Epsom-Curragh double.
Ed Dunlop's filly is bidding to become just the sixth horse in the last 25 years to do the Oaks double.
The Killarney festival winds up this afternoon with Aine Dubh bidding for a second success in four days in the Dawn Milk Run Handicap.
Many people's suspicion that the Kevin O'Donnell-trained mare was well handicapped on the flat bore immediate fruit here on Monday when Aine Dubh put two and a half lengths between herself and Notlackingstyle.
Today's race looks stronger, but under a 5lb penalty Aine Dubh should still be a hard nut for the likes of Golden Triangle and Ballygowan Beauty to crack.
Golden Triangle's defeat of Spanish John at Leopardstown got a boost from the runner-up during the week, but Ballygowan Beauty, who won this race at 20 to 1 last year, put in a good effort last time out when third to Leo's Shuil.
Buddy Man is also 5lb higher in the ratings after winning at Sligo on Sunday, but even that, and the hike in distance for the second division of the mile handicap, might not stop the Pat Martin runner.
Calithyne hasn't run in 15 months, but he did beat The Guarantor at Tipperary on his only racecourse start, and the seven-year-old is worth checking in the bumper.
