Cayenne Pepper, Ennistymon Face Off in Irish Oaks

There seems to be no end to the supply chain of fabulous fillies coming out of Jessica Harrington's Moone Stables, and the latest to stake a classic claim is Cayenne Pepper, who will contest the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) at a 1 1/2 miles July 18 at the Curragh.

She has long been the apple of Shane Foley's eye and, after seeing off So Wonderful in the Flame Of Tara Stakes (G3) last August, he believed her to be the best of the juveniles fillies he had ridden.

Things have not gone to plan since registering three wins from her first three starts. She did not handle the dip at Newmarket and placed fourth behind Quadrilateral in the Bet365 Fillies' Mile (G1) and then spent the first half of the summer trying to find her old sparkle.

It has taken Harrington time to get her back on song but the signs are positive now, and her return to action in the Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), finishing second behind Magical suggests she is ready to produce a big performance when it matters most.

"I was very happy with her comeback run," Harrington said. "I have always thought of her as a mile and a half filly and she seems to have come out of her comeback in great form so we are looking forward to her. It's a good race, there is never a bad group 1, but we are very happy with her. She's going there fresh and well."

Ger Lyons has already landed a classic this term, thanks to Siskin's stylish Tatttersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) win last month and the trainer is doubly represented in his search for a second one with Even So and Yaxeni

Stable jockey Colin Keane has sided with Even So, an all-the-way winner of the Naas Oaks Trial on her last appearance. Her rating of 103 is inferior to Cayenne Pepper, while Yaxeni has 2 3/4 lengths to make up on Snow from their clash at Cork.

Snow is part of a four-horse entry for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, which also includes Laburnum, Passion, and Cayenne Pepper's main competition, Ennistymon, who finished runner up in both the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) and the Investec Oaks (G1).

"We were delighted with Ennistymon at Epsom and she has come out of the Oaks very well," O'Brien said. "She hasn't done a lot since but seems to be in good form. Snow is progressing nicely and she handled the step up in trip the last day well. She's slowly progressing and seems to be in good order. Laburnum was babyish at Gowran, and the last day as well, but we're delighted with how she is progressing with every run and we think she can progress more. Passion ran a very good race in the Oaks, and has been in very good form since. The Curragh should suit her well."

Weld Park Stakes (G3) winner New York Girl rounds out the eight-horse field for trainer Joseph O'Brien. She most recently finished seventh in the June 27 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh.

"She seems to have come out of the Irish Derby well and this race has been the plan ever since," her trainer said. "We're hopeful she can acquit herself well. It looks an open race."