It's all systems go for Dettori and Enable as pair chase Oaks double

Superb Oaks-winning filly Enable will on Saturday bid to become just the sixth filly in the last 20 years to follow up in the Irish equivalent after getting the green light.

John Gosden's filly has been saved for the Curragh since her dramatic five-length Epsom defeat of Rhododendron in the midst of a thunderstorm.

With no three-year-old colt since able to separate himself from the pack, a dominant performance in the Darley Irish Oaks could seal Enable's position as the best middle-distance horse of either gender among the Classic generation.

Frankie Dettori, set to return from injury at Newmarket on Thursday, is due to partner the filly as he attempts to win a ninth Irish Classic.

He said: “I’ll be back on Thursday and, fingers crossed, it should be all systems go for the Curragh on Saturday.

“Enable is a lovely mare. She won a Classic by five lengths and the obvious choice of race was the Irish Oaks.”

Gosden has five Irish Classic victories to his name and said: “Enable is in good form. We've freshened her up after the Oaks and she's building up nicely.

"I’ve been happy enough with her and the plan was always to go to the Curragh after she won at Epsom.

“She hasn’t been over-raced. She was impressive at Chester and Epsom and she won a two-year-old race well towards the backend. We're hopeful that she's very much going in the right direction.”

Gosden could also be represented by Oaks fifth and Ribblesdale winner Coronet.

“I’m leaving Coronet in at this stage,” he added. “She won the Ribblesdale in good order – she got free late and finished very strongly.

"I’ll discuss matters with the owners and we'll have another look after Tuesday’s confirmation stage.”

Aidan O'Brien's 16-strong entry will be whittled down on Tuesday, and giving an update on Monday the trainer said: "The main two for us in the Oaks are Rain Goddess and Alluringly.

"Rain Goddess ran very well in the Pretty Polly [to be second] and that was her first time tackling a mile and a quarter. This is another step up, but you never know what could happen.

"Alluringly ran well in the Oaks at Epsom [to be third] but then she ran disappointingly in the Ribblesdale. We're hoping she leaves that run behind."

The importance of Enable's participation on Saturday is not lost on the Curragh's chief executive Derek McGrath, who said: “We're very much looking forward to seeing a filly of the calibre of Enable running.

"It's always our objective to attract the very best horses to the Curragh and getting the English Oaks winner here is very exciting for us.”

Irish Oaks card and betting