Great Heavens, Colliding Worlds to run in Darley Irish Oaks at Curragh
Great Heavens and Colliding Worlds have booked their place in Sunday’s Darley Irish Oaks at Curragh, following their emphatic success earlier this month. The pair is among 11 possible runners, including the Investec Oaks champion Was, and the excellent Ribblesdale
Stakes heroine, Princess Highway.
Great Heavens made it to the final line-up for the fillies’ Classic following her superb win in the Group 2 Bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock lately. In the hands of Robert Havlin, John Gosden’s charge was in total command all the way through, as she ensured
the top spot by five lengths.
The rider told At The Races: "Everything that's been thrown at her she's taken quite easy in her stride. Hopefully she will do the same again. She went a solid gallop and felt as though she could have gone round again. She handles soft ground well and seems
to be improving all the time."
On the other hand, Colliding Worlds is full of spirit after her maiden triumph at Leopardstown. In the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden, Edward Lynam’s trainee did a fine job in the hands of Fran Berry.
She raced in third early on, and niggled along to close home turn. The 2-1 favourite demonstrated an outstanding show in the final moments, outsmarting All That Rules by four lengths.
Owned by Thistle Bloodstock Ltd, the 3-year-old made her debut at Navan, where she finished eighth in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden in May. She came to the racecourse with a lot of expectations, but failed terribly.
After grabbing her maiden success, the filly is taking a massive leap in class, and there will be plenty of pressure on her. Nevertheless, the handler is quite confident about his charge’s chances in the €232,000 meeting.
"She won nicely last week in maiden company. It's a big step up in class for her, but her owner is keen for her to take her chance. He has all the family and if we're not in we can't win, so we have supplemented her,” the County Meath trainer stated ahead
of the 1-mile 4-furlong event.
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