British invasion: how quality over quantity has seen Britain dominate Irish Oaks

Quality over quantity tends to be the trend for the British-based runners in the Kerrygold Irish Oaks and this year could be no different with just three of the remaining 13 entries flying the flag for Britain.

John Gosden and Anthony Oppenheimer made the decision to supplement last month's Ribblesdale winner Star Catcher as the Newmarket trainer goes in search of a third success in the Irish Classic, while Ralph Beckett is currently two-pronged with Antonia De Vega and Manuela De Vega.

However, the likely numerical disadvantage against the home challenge is no reason to doubt that either Gosden or Beckett will come away with the victory.

Star Catcher: looks to deliver a third Irish Oaks victory for John GosdenCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

What the stats say

Despite having been represented by less than half the field in each running over the last decade, Britain-based trainers have won seven of the last ten Irish Oaks.

Sariska kickstarted the ten-year haul in memorable fashion, cantering through the field under a motionless Jamie Spencer, who had the audacity to wave goodbye to closest pursuer Roses For The Lady inside the final furlong. Six-time Group 1 winner Midday, who finished second to Sariska at Epsom, was well held in third.

Jame Spencer had time to showboat on Sariska in 2009Credit: Caroline Norris

Snow Fairy also completed the Oaks double with a commanding eight-length win in the Curragh Classic against the strongest British representation in the last ten years.

Dancing Rain could not make it three Oaks doubles in a row in 2011 as she finished fifth behind Godolphin's 1,000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting, who doubled her Classic tally by the narrowest of margins.

Gosden's Great Heavens compounded the Irish Oaks woe of the home challenge by making it four in a row in 2012, with Shirocco Star playing bridesmaid again in a one-two for Britain.

Only once in ten years has the leading British runner failed to finish in the first three, with Riposte faring best in 2013 in fifth as Beckett's Epsom winner Talent trailed home last of seven. Even then Irish trainers couldn't take advantage, with the winner, Chicquita, trained at that time by Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Enable was a brilliant winner of the Irish Oaks in 2017Credit: Patrick McCann

Covert Love renewed the British dominance in 2015 for trainer Hugo Palmer and it was Palmer who went closest again a year later as Architecture, runner-up at Epsom to the magnificent Minding, filled the same position behind Minding's stablemate, Seventh Heaven.

The decade-long theme has continued in the last two years, with subsequent dual Arc winner Enable confirming her superiority in 2017, while Sea Of Class – who later followed Enable home at Longchamp – showcased her stunning turn of foot to win by a neck as the sole British representative last year.

This year's challenge

Gosden and Beckett have both featured in the recent alumni of the Irish fillies' Classic and the hopes of an eighth win in 11 years rest on their shoulders.

Handed a nightmare draw in stall one at Epsom, Manuela De Vega performed admirably to finish fourth at Epsom and, granted a better passage at the Curragh, has the right sort of profile to go close.

Antonia De Vega: decisive Newbury winner could be following the same path as Sea Of ClassCredit: Mark Cranham

Her stablemate Antonia De Vega returned with an emphatic win at Newbury in June in the Listed contest Sea Of Class won en route to the Curragh. She is unlikely to encounter the same soft surface she had in Berkshire but has won on faster previously.

The decision to supplement Royal Ascot winner Star Catcher is certainly a statement of intent as Gosden and Oppenheimer are unlikely to have stumped up the cash without realistic prospects of a Classic win. Her Ribblesdale win puts her right in the frame and, in Frankie Dettori, she has a jockey riding better than anyone at the minute.

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