Caroline’s Saturday Selections for 19th July 2025

Caroline’s Saturday Selections from The Curragh & Newbury

The Curragh

GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) 2.35
True Love
It does seem that everything Aidan O’Brien touches comes up shining this year, with a double in the English & Irish Derby standing out, and True Love can take the GAIN Railway here. I though she was hugely impressive the last day when she took the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot’s Royal do, and although Adrian Murray’s Power Blue looks potentially smart, I think the True Love might have his measure in receipt of 3lbs. It’s a bit disappointing that there’s just the four going to post, but I’m of the opinion that this is a two horse race, with True Love just edging it over Power Blue.

Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) 3.05
Arizona Blaze (nb)
Well, I wouldn’t think that Arizona Blaze would have to improve much to take this Sapphire Stakes, judged on his fine second in the Commonwealth at Royal Ascot. He ran a real cracker in that Group One, just denied by a neck by Time For Sandals but now back at 5 furlongs I can see this Sergei Prokofiev colt making a big effort from the front. The pair of British raiders, Ed Walker’s Mgheera and Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar both come off the back of a winning run the last day, with Ryan Moore booked for the ride on Mgheera making him the big threat. However, Arizona Blaze rarely fails to deliver, so he’s my pick at this trip, and I’d expect Rob Hornby to make a late charge on Rumstar to make a decent race of it.

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) 3.40
Minnie Hauk
Well, Minnie Hauk looks to have scared off plenty for this Classic, and winning this Irish Oaks after taking the one at Epsom would give Aidan O’Brien a fantastic double double. Can he do it? Well, the way Aidan O’Brien’s been knocking up the Group winners this season, I think he can, but so do the Bookies, so you’ll not get a lot back for trouble! With no Whirl lining up, the second in the Epsom Classic who won the Pretty Polly here three weeks back, it should in theory be a straightforward task to land this. I’m thinking that an exotic might give me more value, so I’d be looking at stablemate Island Hopping to run Minnie Hauk the closest.

Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup (Group 2) 4.15
Al Riffa
I don’t want to say that Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa should be winning this, as nothing is certain in horseracing, but he’s the class act for me in this line up. He’s also unproven at this trip, but it’s good ground expected so I’m of the opinion he will see this out. Also, he is a dual Group One winner, and ran a brilliant race to finish second to the globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last month, so there’s no doubt he’s in form. Aidan O’Brien’s Shackleton must be the big danger, getting an 11lb pull with Al Riffa’s penalty for those Group One wins, and I think it’s between these two.

Newbury

BetVictor Steventon Stakes (Listed) 1.50
Rashabar (nap)
I think that it will be Brian Meehan’s Rashabar to land this Listed contest, and I’m not worried at all that he see out this trip. We saw him finishing fourth to Field Of Gold the last day, and this is a much easier task than that Group One St James’s Palace Stakes where, to me, he was still doing plenty going through the line. Of course, he was also fourth in the 2,000 Guineas on this track, again no match for Field Of Gold, but put in a decent run so has track form and won’t be minding any rain that’s about. Roger Varian’s Enfjaar and Harry Charlton’s Okeechobee have nudged ahead of the selection in the markets this week, but I can’t have that so it’s Rashabar for me.

Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) 2.57
Regional
Another race that’s thrown up a Group One performer dropped quite a bit in grade, and that is Ed Bethell’s Regional. He was in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot the last day, and was only just over a length behind the impressive American Affair, and to me this is strong form for this Group 3. He was fourth in this last year, with the re-opposing Elite Status taking the race, and Kind Of Blue and Diligent Harry also in the mix. Kind Of Blue is my each way pick, as his time of year comes round, but I’ll stick with Regional for the win, and look past Elite Status who doesn’t look to be in the same form.