Mary Tudor ready for all-quality Oaks challenge

Godolphin trainer Willie McCreery believes Mary Tudor is set to run the race of her life against six talented rivals in Saturday’s G1 Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

McCreery is well aware the Dawn Approach filly must contend with the might of the Aidan O’Brien-trained trio, Magic Wand, a Royal Ascot winner, Forever Together, who took the G1 Investec Oaks at Epsom, plus Bye Bye Baby.

She will also have to produce her best on ground expected to be quick following a prolonged spell of dry weather in Ireland.

McCreery said: “We’ll be trying our best to beat Aidan’s fillies. Mary Tudor is in good form, and I feel the Oaks trio is going to suit her.

“If she has luck on her side, she’ll run a big race,” the trainer added.

Mary Tudor turned in a superb run when runner-up to Easter Lily in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial on Wednesday, 27 June. She has since worked well and is ready for her clash with several well-established fillies.

“She is such a good-moving filly, I don’t think the ground will worry her,” the trainer added.

Apart from the Ballydoyle squad, there is also the William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class, a very progressive filly, who steps up from two wins at Newbury in Listed company. She is a daughter of Sea The Stars.

Normally, a filly who has triumphed at Epsom will be well-fancied to follow up in the Irish equivalent.

But Forever Together was beaten on her first run after the Classic, in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. In view of her authoritative victory previously, perhaps she should be given another chance.

Seven runners in a Classic is often perceived as disappointing, but what this lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality, of that you can be certain.