Moonstone heads O'Brien sextet

Ballydoyle responsible for almost half of Oaks field

Last updated: 11th July 2008

Moonstone heads O'Brien sextet

Moonstone: second at Epsom

Also see

Aidan O'Brien will field no fewer than six fillies in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday, headed by Epsom runner-up Moonstone.

The master of Ballydoyle will also be represented by Adored, Gentle On My Mind, Honoria, Perihelion and Ice Queen as he bids to add to the recent wins of Alexandrova and Peeping Fawn.

Ice Queen could finish only sixth at the highest level in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time, a race in which Dermot Weld's Mad About You took second behind Promising Lead.

Weld's charge is still seeking her first win in Group One company but has not been out of the frame in her last four races and returns to her own age group.

She will be joined by stablemate Chinese White, a disappointment in the Oaks at Epsom, while Jim Bolger relies on Prima Luce.

John Oxx saw Katiyra finish third behind Look Here in the Vodafone Oaks in June and will be hoping his filly can go two places better.

Pat Downes, racing manager for owner the Aga Khan, said: "We're looking forward to seeing her run again and she had a nice, easy time of things after her run at Epsom.

"I think John Oxx has been very happy with her work since he started stepping her up again ahead of Sunday."

One of our concerns going to Epsom was her lack of experience as she'd only had two runs under her belt at that point and I suppose horses either enjoy Epsom or they don't.

"On the day we don't feel that she enjoyed it and I think she should be better suited to the Curragh."

French interest focuses on Andre Fabre's Gagnoa, second to Zarkava in the Prix de Diane last time, while Festival Princess and the British-trained pair of Rosa Grace and Silk Affair complete the 14-runner line-up.