Aidan O’Brien won top spot at the Darley Irish Oaks on Friday at the Curragh with Seventh Heaven, and he couldn’t be happier after all this is his fifth time as winner. All the bookmakers had tipped Even Song, ridden by Ryan Moore and to be fair Ryan had first pick of which horse to ride from the Ballydoyle stable, he picked Even Song. She was slow to start and never really picked it up during the race. Seamie Heffernan had second pick of the fillies and picked Seventh Heaven, riding her steady and got top spot. Well done Seamie.
On Saturday, we see the Ballydoyle Trainer heading to Royal Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes where he may only take one horse, Highland Reel. Having won this race three times previously, in 2001 with Galileo, 2007 with Dylan Thomas and in 2008 with Marmalade, O’Brien will be looking to cement another win this weekend.
He may also take Sir Isaac Newton but Highland Reel will definitely be running.
Looking at today, we have racing at Ayr, Beverley, Cartmel and Windsor, and in Ballinrobe in Ireland. Racing at Windsor this evening in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, is Tropical Rock, the daughter of Fastnet Rock. Tropical Rock loves hard ground so her trainer Ralph Beckett has only had a few options for her this summer due to the weather. Today she runs at 5.45, the weather is good and the ground is good to firm. On her last run out she came third out of a field of ten. Today Beckett hopes she will behave herself in the stalls and be settled and focused; if she can do this she has a great chance of winning. Odds on Tropical Rock today are 2/5 with Ladbrokes.
The only real horse in contention today is the newcomer Miss Laila, Richard Hughes is her trainer and this is her debut, so good things are expected. Miss Laila debuts with a price of 7/1 with Bet365. There are ten runners in this race but the other competitors are not supposed to be a real challenge to Tropical Rock.
Good Luck today.