Global Weekly Preview - 17.07.15

In European racing, it is very much a case of the lull before the storm. A week before Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes; 10 days prior to Glorious Goodwood, English racing's summer party on the Sussex Downs.

However, the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh provides Group One action this weekend that is certain to assist in the overall assessment of the current Classic generation, which to this point in the season has been both positive and encouraging.

Sir Anthony Oppenheimer's Golden Horn and Godolphin's Jack Hobbs are two stand-out colts. The former heads to the King George, while the latter takes a break and prepares for the Prix Niel and the Arc.

But, could a filly emerge in the second half of the season to challenge their supremacy? The Darley Irish Oaks is usually the launching pad for such a filly, if she exists. Remember User Friendly (1992), Ouija Board (2004) and Snow Fairy (2010). All spring-boarded to international glory off the back of their success at the Curragh in July.

Arguably the most memorable running of the Irish Oaks in the past three decades came in 1988 when the gallant Diminuendo, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, dead-heated with Melodist, trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

Both fillies were owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and both proved to be top class.

This year, there are several promising types. The David Wachman-trained Curvy displayed plenty of courage when she muscled her way past Pleascach to land the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and she has now won four of her seven starts.

Words, one of four in the race for Ballydoyle, is unbeaten in two, winning her maiden at the Curragh (in which Oaks winner Qualify finished fourth) last year, and a Group Three at Cork one month ago.

Qualify, who subsequently ran sixth in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after her Classic triumph at Epsom, also lines up in the 10-runner Irish Oaks. Staying is her trump card, and if the pace is solid throughout -- which it should be -- she could bounce back to form.

Jim Bolger runs Stellar Glow, who comes here off the back of a maiden victory over a mile and a half at Leopardstown earlier in the month. John Gosden sends Gretchen, who did well for fifth in the Ribblesdale on only her second start. Jessica Harrington runs Jack Naylor, who was sixth at Epsom.

But, for me, the most interesting runner is the Hugo Palmer-trained Covert Love, an Azamour filly who has won three of her four starts and is a rapid improver. She won a handicap at York and a Listed contest at Newcastle, and now takes the giant leap into Group One company.

Palmer is an astute judge in sorting out his young horses and this filly has clearly shown signs of great improvement at home between runs.

The Irish Oaks was first run in 1895 and has a rich tradition for uncovering talented fillies. This may just be the case again this year.