CAN AIDEN O’BRIEN’S CLASSIC
DOMINATION CONTINUE?

By Sarah Whitelaw
12 July 2002

The Irish Oaks is run on Sunday and yet again, Aiden O’Brien runs the favourite in  Quarter Moon, an Epsom Oaks second. O’Brien has won two of three Irish classics this year - in both races he had the first three home. 

Quarter Moon was a game second to Kazzia at Epsom, and with Godolphin’s tough filly being aimed at the St Leger, Quarter Moon should take all the beating here. The Oaks form was paid a compliment when the sixth filly home, Mellow Park, was a smooth winner of the Lancashire Oaks.

Winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes last year, the Sadler’s Wells filly has yet to win this year but has solid form. Her stablemates, Kournakova and Starbourne, need to improve. 

Mellow Park meets Quarter Moon, but has ground to make up on the favourite. She is, however, well bred and seems to be improving. If the favourite fluffs her lines, Mellow Park should be thereabouts and the sister to Central Park should run well.

Dermot Weld’s Irresistible Jewel is the most likely to give the O’Brien runners the most to worry about. The daughter of Danehill was an impressive winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and is on the up. On the Ribblesdale she has to improve to beat the favourite but should run well.

Sir Michael Stoute runs the twice raced Machiavellian filly, L’Affaire Monarque. She is a full sister to the smart Whitewater Affair, but her inexperience may count against her. She has a lot to find with more fancied runners but looks classy.

SELECTION

1. Quarter Moon

2. Irresistible Jewel

3. Mellow Park