Quality maiden set to open Irish Oaks weekend at the Curragh

An intriguing colts and geldings' maiden (1.30) is set to open play for the Irish Oaks meeting at the Curragh this weekend, with debutants trained by Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld among the eyecatchers.

One such colt is the Coolmore-owned and bred Cairo, a son of Quality Road who is the third foal out of the Listed-winning Galileo mare Cuff.

Cuff is in turn out of Empress Stakes scorer Massarra, a daughter of Danehill and Prince Faisal's Prix de Diane heroine and outstanding producer Rafha and therefore a sister to Kodiac and a half-sibling to Invincible Spirit.

Cuff is beautifully bred herself as she is a sister to Superlative Stakes scorer and first-season sire Gustav Klimt, a colt who was also second in the St James's Palace Stakes, third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and third in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Cuff is also related to Group 1 Gran Criterium scorer Nayarra (by Cape Cross), Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes winner Wonderfully (Galileo), and stakes winners Friendly and Blissful (both by Galileo).

O'Brien will also saddle Hans Andersen, a son of Frankel and juvenile Listed winner Shadow Hunter who sold to MV Magnier for 450,000gns from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Weld and Moyglare Stud Farm have combined this term to great effect with Frankel's Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs and they team up with another offspring by the champion sire in newcomer Nation's Call.

The March-born colt is the first foal out of Group 3 Killavullan and Park Express Stakes scorer Making Light, a Tamayuz mare out of Instant Sparkle, a winning Danehill sister to Ribblesdale Stakes winner Irresistible Jewel.

Irresistible Jewel is in turn the dam of Irish St Leger hero Royal Diamond, another Ribblesdale heroine in Princess Highway and the Group-winning Irish 1,000 Guineas third Mad About You.

Other notable debutants include Al Riffa, a son of Wootton Bassett from the family of Prix Vermeille and Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma, and Pigeon House, by Saxon Warrior and a relation to Nassau Stakes scorer and Oaks third Zahrat Dubai.

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