Haggas Takes Shot at O’Brien Squadron in Irish Oaks

The Weatherbys Super Sprint meeting at Newbury tops the domestic bill this coming weekend. However, for those who favour high-class Group racing over fast and furious juvenile sprint contests, the Curragh is the place to be. Getting underway on Saturday afternoon, the two-day Irish Oaks meeting features six Group class contests, headlined by the fourth Classic of the Irish season.

Offering €500,000 in prize money, this 1m4f event tends to attract runners from the Epsom equivalent in June. Such is the case in 2026, with the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th from the English event all in the lineup. As ever, the name O’Brien features prominently in punters’ calculations, with eight of the 11 runners hailing from the yards of Aidan or Joseph O’Brien. However, the British raiders have a good recent record in this event and look to have a fair chance of upsetting the hosts once again.

High Hopes for Haggas Filly

Of the 26 editions of the Irish Oaks in the 21st Century, 12 have been won by a runner trained in Britain. If that record improves in 2026, the betting market suggests that the filly most likely to prevail is this year’s Ribblesdale heroine, Earth Shot.

Sporting the famous Wathnan Racing silks, this daughter of Time Test hails from the yard of William Haggas, who claimed his only Irish Oaks success with the hugely talented Sea Of Class in 2018. Earth Shot has yet to hit the heights of the 122-rated Sea Of Class but has certainly made a promising start to her career.

Never finishing out of the first two in four starts to date, she produced her best effort yet when stepped up to this trip at Royal Ascot. Unlocking her reserves of stamina that day, she had a lot to do in the straight but kept rolling on the run-in to get up in the shadow of the post. With the Curragh providing a thorough test at the trip, the mount of James Doyle has plenty in her favour.

Those who fancy Earth Shot to go well must also give a chance to the second British-based runner in the field. Representing David Menuisier, Inis Mor bounced back from 1,0000 Guineas disappointment to claim the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes, with Earth Shot back in second. Backing that up with a solid third in the Prix de Diane, she has the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the saddle and may not be far away if repeating those recent efforts.

Earhart Captains Ballydoyle Team

First successful with Alexandrova in 2006 and most recently with Minnie Hauk in 2025, Aidan O’Brien’s tally of eight Irish Oaks wins makes him the most successful trainer in the history of the race. If he fails to add to that total in 2026, it won’t be for a lack of trying – of the 11 confirmed runners, five hail from his Ballydoyle operation.

Of that quintet, the market favours Amelia Earhart. Rounding out her juvenile season with an impressive maiden success at Leopardstown, this Camelot filly returned with a comfortable success from a couple of highly regarded rivals in the Cheshire Oaks. Starting as the 7/4 market leader at Epsom on the back of that display, she disappointed favourite backers with a laboured sixth-place finish. As underwhelming as that effort was, she wouldn’t be the first filly to bounce back from an Epsom flop and is the choice of Ballydoyle number one, Ryan Moore.

Of the other Aidan O’Brien fillies, Sugar Island and Cameo finished ahead of Amelia Earhart at Epsom but are available to back at double-figure prices here. Outsiders Beautify and Composing have both won at Group 2 level but will need to take a big step up from their recent efforts.

Thundering to Roar Back to Best

Surprisingly, Joseph O’Brien has never won the Irish Oaks, either as a trainer or during his time as the number one jockey at his father’s yard. That may change in 2026, as Joseph saddles this year’s Epsom Oaks winner, Thundering On.

Sired by the mighty Frankel, this Shapoor Mistry-owned filly thrust her name into the Oaks mix with an impressive win in the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan. Sent off at odds of 5/1 for the British Classic, she produced one of the most dominant displays in recent memory. Cantering all over her rivals in the straight, she merely needed to be pushed out for a stunning 3½l triumph.

Hailed as the new superstar on the scene following that effort, it was disappointing to see Thundering On finish only fourth in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her next start. Was the step down to 1m2f to blame, is she not yet ready to face her elders, or did she simply have an off day? We will learn more on Saturday afternoon. For now, punters are keeping the faith, with Thundering On the clear Irish Oaks market leader at a general 2/1.

If Thundering On comes up short, Joseph O’Brien may still hit the target with the unbeaten Rebel Moon or Johanna Walsh, who lost out by just a head to Earth Shot in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Hailing from the yard of two-time Irish Oaks winner Jim Bolger, Sparan Nua is a perfect three from three in her career to date and completes the line-up. Haggas, Menuisier, O’Brien, or Bolger. We will discover the latest Classic winner of the 2026 campaign at 4:35 on Saturday afternoon.