RACING: Quarter Moon looks set to fill a rare classic blank for Aidan O'Brien in tomorrow's Darley Irish Oaks, writes Brian O'Connor

A total of four victories in the 2,000 Guineas, a trio of Derbys and a couple of 1,000 wins are already nestling in the 32-year-old trainer's Irish classic haul.

The home Oaks has proved elusive but that looks set to change as Quarter Moon will be a hot favourite to give O'Brien a sixth classic of the season.

Quarter Moon showed remarkable resilience when chasing Kazzia all the way to the line in the Epsom Oaks.

Michael Kinane, chasing a third Irish Oaks, was niggling at the filly down the hill but on testing ground, Quarter Moon never gave up the fight and had Kazzia all out at the line.

That has been enough to have the bookies shouting odds on during the week against a field that looks to lack depth.

Quarter Moon's main danger may not even come from the opposition but from a strenuous last race that came on the back of two other classic efforts.

O'Brien doesn't appear worried, however, and said: "Quarter Moon has been in good form and seems very well since her run at Epsom. We were very happy with the way she ran there." That being so, the case for Quarter Moon picking up her classic appears pretty watertight: proven on different types of ground and with a proven Group One record.

None of the others can boast a Group One victory and a couple of classic placings although it is worth remembering the record of Epsom runners-up at the Curragh is not spectacular.

Dermot Weld has won the Oaks twice with Blue Wind (1981) and Dance Design (1996) and his representative this time is the Ribblesdale winner Irresistible Jewel.

That Ascot success was quite a step up on her Naas maiden success but she will need to make another leap to contend in a classic.

British-trained fillies have lifted the pot for the last three years and the best overseas chance this time looks to be Mellow Park.

The Seamus Burns-owned runner lifted the Lancashire Oaks last time as partial compensation for a disappointing effort at Epsom.

Mellow Park looked to be taken off her feet in the early stages and was beaten before the straight. She will hardly run as badly again but she does have a lot to make up on Quarter Moon.

Red Rioja was slightly unlucky in the straight at Epsom and could reverse places with the favourite's stable companion Starbourne.

However, it's hard to look beyond Quarter Moon and a first Irish Oaks for Aidan O'Brien.