Cazoo Oaks Winner Tuesday Bids for June 25 Irish Derby

Aidan O'Brien has sprinkled some spice on the June 25 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) by supplementing Cazoo Oaks (G1) winner Tuesday , who will bid to become the first filly to win the Curragh Classic since Balanchine 28 years ago.

Tuesday was the standout name among the 16 remaining possibles for the Irish Derby at the five-day stage. She is set for a showdown with Cazoo Derby third Westover , who will be ridden by Irish champion Colin Keane for the first time, replacing Rob Hornby.

Since Balanchine beat King's Theatre in 1994, four fillies ran in the Irish Derby this century. Qualify , who, like Tuesday, won the Oaks on her previous start, was sixth to Jack Hobbs  in 2015, while New York Girl  was seventh in 2020.

O'Brien told the Racing Post: "We have supplemented Tuesday and the plan is to run with Ryan (Moore) to ride her. She seems to have come out of Epsom well. Obviously, we haven't done too much since the Oaks, but anything she has done, she has done well."

Tuesday edged out Emily Upjohn  by a short head in a thrilling Cazoo Oaks 22 days ago. The form of that Classic has already been boosted as Nashwa , who finished third, won the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) at Chantilly last Sunday.

That Oaks success by Tuesday was on the same day as her third birthday, and the Irish Derby will be her fourth Classic appearance of the season. She was third in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) and second in the Irish equivalent before going on to Oaks glory.

When asked why he has decided to supplement Tuesday rather than rely on his colts, O'Brien said: "She just came out of the Oaks very well and she has kept progressing with every week that passes since the start of the year. 

"I have said all along she is only going to get better with time, given her age, but it is one thing saying it, it is another thing doing it on the track. She has done it. Physically, every week she has just got stronger, and everybody involved with her has been very happy." 

O'Brien has yet to finalize the rest of his Derby team but suggested Stone Age  will miss the Curragh in favor of a crack at the Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown next month. 

The trainer said: "I'm not sure yet who will join Tuesday in the race. We have left in Changingoftheguard  and Stone Age. But the plan at the moment is for Stone Age to go to the Eclipse.

"Stone Age is a good, strong traveler, and there is a chance he is much happier at a mile and a quarter." 

Although Changingoftheguard won the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot June 17, O'Brien said it is not beyond the bounds of possibility he will be asked to turn out again eight days later to contest the Curragh Classic. 

O'Brien said: "Changingoftheguard is an incredibly tough horse. He loves racing and he seems well after Ascot. He only ran last week, so it will be a day-by-day thing with him, but at the moment he seems very well."

O'Brien has won the Irish Derby 14 times, most recently with Santiago  in 2020, but never with a filly. As well as Tuesday, Changingoftheguard, and Stone Age, O'Brien could run Anchorage  and Temple Of Artemis.

Since O'Brien revealed that Tuesday would be supplemented, the daughter of Galileo  has been all the rage with Paddy Power and is now 7-4 second favorite, having been initially introduced into the market at 3-1. Westover is clinging to favoritism at 6-4.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "It has all been about Tuesday on Tuesday. She is the one punters want and they obviously feel she has a much better chance than Qualify who tried to do the Oaks-Irish Derby double in 2015. There is every chance she could go off favorite on the day."