Donnacha O'Brien expecting improved display from major Irish Guineas hope Shale

The Tattersalls 1,000 Irish Guineas eluded Donnacha O'Brien during his glittering career in the saddle, but the flourishing trainer now looks to have a leading chance of putting that CV omission right this Sunday and is expecting an improved display from star filly Shale.

A Curragh rematch with Pretty Gorgeous – trained by brother Joseph – is on the cards in the first fillies' Classic of the Irish campaign, with the scores locked at two wins apiece from last season.

O'Brien made no secret of the fact 2020's joint-highest rated juvenile filly in Europe would be likely to need her first run of the campaign at Leopardstown last month, but there were signs of encouragement to be taken from that fifth-placed effort.

Shale: set to for another rematch with Pretty Gorgeous at the Curragh on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann

"I thought it was a lovely first run," said O'Brien of the general 11-2 chance, who won last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes. "She would have needed it but it was a nice starting point and we were happy with her on the day."

He added: "She's in good form and I think she's improved since Leopardstown. We're hoping there isn't too much rain for her. A bit of nice ground suits her well.

"I know she won on soft to heavy at Gowran but she was beaten on soft ground at the Curragh in the Debutante Stakes and also in the Fillies' Mile on a similar ground."

An important month lies ahead for O'Brien's squad, with recent runaway Saval Beg Stakes winner Emperor Of The Sun on course for a Gold Cup clash with Stradivarius at Ascot.

Donnacha O'Brien on Emperor Of The Sun: 'The further we've gone so far, the better he's been so hopefully we might see even more improvement'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He said of the half-brother to champion first-season sire in Australia, Zoustar: "I thought he'd run a big race at Leopardstown but I didn't know he'd do that. He was always going to be a kind of middle-distance horse but you never know about those extreme distances until you go up and try them."

He added: "We obviously haven't gone anywhere near a Gold Cup trip yet but the further we've gone so far, the better he's been so hopefully we might see even more improvement."

O'Brien can also call on a talented two-year-old team for the royal meeting, with the form of maidens won by Masseto and Elliptic working out extremely well.

"They're exciting horses to have," he said of the pair. "Masseto, all being well, will run in the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. I think he's improved and everything has gone very smoothly.

Masseto: in line to run in Saturday's GAIN Marble Hill Stakes at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Elliptic didn't get to run at the Curragh two weeks ago and we've just had to clear up a little infection with her. We may or may not get a run into her beforehand but she'll be fine for Ascot."

O'Brien's classy three-year-old Fernando Vichi could make his next appearance in the Listed Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown on June 3 before the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Meanwhile, running plans for Jim Bolger's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas contenders Mac Swiney and Poetic Flare are to be decided on Thursday, the trainer told the Racing Post.

The next official going report from the Curragh will be published on Thursday morning, but the track's chief executive Pat Keogh revealed 10mm of rain on Tuesday night had left the track appearing soft.

He explained: "A drying Wednesday will have helped but it's probably soft all over after the rain we've had, we'll call it in the morning. There looks to be more rain forecast for Thursday."

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