Wonder of Wonders Big Fave to Turn Tables on Dancing Rain in Irish Oaks

The Aidan O’Brien trained Wonder of Wonders is a big favorite to turn the tables on rival Dancing Rain in the 0 Irish Oaks on Sunday, July 7.  The fourth Irish Classic race of the year is also the most prestigious for three-year-old fillies.  The race has attracted fourteen entrants, but most horse players will have their eyes on only five of those fourteen.

A run appears to have already taken place on O’Brien’s best shot, Wonder of Wonders, who is garnering almost all of the attention from the betting public at -0.  The filly sired by Kingmambo finished second behind Dancing Rain in the Group Investec Oaks on June 3rd.  In what amounted to a merry-go-round race, Wonder of Wonders sat in second, behind Dancing Rain, through soft fractions throughout much of the Investec Oaks until the final stretch where Wonder of Wonders pushed hard to the finish line.  Unfortunately, the pace had been so soft early on in the event, that O’Brien’s filly couldn’t quite catch the Investec Oaks winner.

That winner, Dancing Rain, is the second choice on the board to win the Irish Oaks at 4/.  Jockey Johnny Murtagh has won thirteen Irish Classic races including five Irish Oaks.  Trained by William Haggas, the Danehill Dancer sired gal figures to be on the lead, or close to it, in Sunday’s Oaks.  Murtagh will once again try to carve out soft fractions and then hold off the on rushing Wonder of Wonders. 

Wonder of Wonders isn’t the only O’Brien trained entrant in the race, though.  Co-third choice Misty for Me won the Group Irish Guineas in May before finishing fifth as one of the favorites in the Investec Oaks.  After the fifth place finish, O’Brien saddled the Galileo sired filly to a stunning victory over champion Midday in the Group Pretty Polly Stakes.  If Misty for Me repeats her Pretty Polly victory, garnered over elders, she could definitely be the O’Brien horse standing in the winner’s circle, not Wonder of Wonders.  The filly is offering excellent value at 9/ odds.

Also going off at 9/ in the Irish Oaks is the Godolphin trained Blue Bunting.  The English 000 Guineas victor took home fourth place in the Investec Oaks behind Dancing Rain, Wonder of Wonders and Izzi Top.  Top Godolphin pilot Frankie Dettori will hop aboard the Dynaformer filly.  With a faster pace in the Irish Oaks than in the Investec, Blue Bunting should be in the thick of it in the stretch.

Banimpire, the winner of the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes, is the only other filly offering odds below double-digits.  Banimpire, trained by James Bolger, is at 8/ on the board.  Although the Ribblesdale is a Group race, it should be noted that Banimpire got the &frac;  mile journey in :37.06 while Dancing Rain won the Investec Oaks in :4.73.  Banimpire is a logical choice to win the Irish Oaks for those horseplayers with their sights on an overlay.

See below for the field, with odds, entered in this Sunday’s Irish Oaks.

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