Dubai: The connections of Tarfasha are hoping she can seize the day and secure another Classic victory for her owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, at The Curragh, Ireland, on Saturday.
Taghrooda won the Investec Oaks (G1) at Epsom, England for Shaikh Hamdan last month and the Ireland-trained Tarfasha, who finished second on that occasion, goes into the Darley Irish Oaks (G1) as the 9-4 hot favourite.
Trainer Dermot Weld, who trains out of Rosewell House in Curragh, Kildare also believes that his filly deserves to start as the favourite as she is back on home soil.
“She’s very well, she’s in good form and hopefully we won’t get too much rain. If we get a lot of rain, then we’ll review it and see. That would suit Vote Often,” the two-time Irish Oaks-winning trainer told At The Races.
“She’s on home territory, she’s the one, but the other filly [Volume] that was third at Epsom, there is very little between them,” added Weld, whose wins in the Irish Classic came with Dance Design in 1996 and Blue Wind in Dance Design in 1981.
Angus Gold, Shaikh Hamdan’s racing manager, was also bullish about the daughter of Teofilo’s chances.
“Tarfasha is in good form, she ran a fantastic race in the Oaks and Shaikh Hamdan felt she deserved the opportunity to win an Oaks herself,” he said.
“It would be very special to have two Oaks winners heading to stud. It’s special having one Oaks winner, but to have two would be amazing — it would be fantastic for him and the stud.
“She would much prefer fast ground so hopefully they don’t get much [rain]. Pat [Smullen] felt at Epsom she got the mile and a half, but that’s as far as she would want to be going.”
Pat Smullen, who thinks highly of Tarfasha, who has ridden in all five of her starts, said: “We’re very happy with her. I hope we don’t get too much rain. If it’s nice ground, she’s there with every chance [of winning].”
Tarfasha faces a formidable five-strong challenge from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stables and Richard Hannon’s Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Lustrous.
O’Brien’s team includes Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) scorer Bracelet, Irish Guineas winner Marvellous, Beyond Brilliance, Palace and Tapestry.
Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables lend their name to the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes, a two-year-old contest that also figures on a strong eight-race card.
Meanwhile, Dubai-based Al Basti Equiworld sponsors two races at Saturday’s Newbury feature, including the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes and a EBF Breeding Winners Fillies’ Handicap.
