Irish Oaks Declarations: Seven Fillies Expected at Curragh The Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday has attracted a field of seven fillies, though sadly the Epsom rematch between Minnie Hauk and Whirl hasn't materialised as the runner-up was an absentee. Aidan O'Brien, seeking to win this race for an eighth time, has Minnie Hauk spearheading a quartet of runners from Ballydoyle. Here's a look at seven declared contenders for the Irish Oaks. Mindite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Bay Balcony The New Bay filly won a heavy-ground maiden at Limerick in April to open her account at the fifth time of asking, but has since been readily brushed aside in a Listed contest at Leopardstown. She gives Fozzy Stack a runner in the Classic but it would be a massive shock if she wins. Butterfly Wings A daughter of Justify, she won her maiden at Leopardstown over 1m2f in May (fourth start) but has since toiled in a trio of Listed/Group 3 events over a variety of trips and she looks the least likely of the Ballydoyle quartet on paper. Island Hopping This daughter of Wootton Bassett has just one win from seven attempts, a mile maiden at Gowran Park last year. She hasn't exactly looked progressive in four runs this season. Her trainer is a maestro, however, so big-race improvement shouldn't be discounted on this stage sporting first-time cheekpieces. Merrily Ended last season winning the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket, a Group 3 over 7f, but this season has so far witnessed heavy defeats at home and in France (twice). One of four Ballydoyle fillies in the race, they are all by different sires. This daughter of No Nay Never needs a bounce-back effort in this company. Minnie Hauk The gutsy winner of the Epsom Oaks, she has only been beaten once in four career starts and backed up her Cheshire Oaks success by gamely getting on top of stablemate Whirl in that Classic contest last month. She displayed a really tenacious attitude to get the verdict and will take all the beating in her attempt to land the Oaks double. Subsonic Johnny Murtagh's Lope De Vega filly has the least experience of the remaining contenders. She was a half-length second on debut behind Minnie Hauk at Leopardstown (1m, soft) in October, but disappointed on return in April when only sixth in a Naas maiden over 1m2½f. A tongue-tie is fitted now and if willing to judge her on debut, rather than her seasonal comeback, she could be interesting. Wemighttakedlongway Joseph O'Brien's filly is a daughter of the dual Derby winner Australia and she helped herself to a Group 3 win at Navan over 1m2f on soft ground in April. She was beaten just over five-lengths in the Epsom Oaks last month and north of three-lengths in the Pretty Polly Stakes over shorter more recently at this track. This race doesn't have a lot of depth to it, based on what we have seen so far, and she is second-best on ratings.
