The fillies take centre stage at the Curragh on Sunday and Aidan O'Brien bids to land his sixth Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas.
Homecoming Queen was an impressive all-the-way winner of the English equivalent and the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor spearheads the Ballydoyle attack on the second home Classic of 2012.
While many were quick to question the Newmarket form, the manner in which she galloped her opponents into the ground, setting blistering fractions in the process, suggests there was no fluke about her nine-length romp.
La Collina (fifth in the English 1000) and Yellow Rosebud look the main dangers, and the rapidly-improving pair warrant plenty of respect, with both entitled to come on from their respective reappearances.
Racegoers are also treated to a select but intriguing field for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, and while last year's victor So You Think is another Ballydoyle representative expected to go off a warm order, both Famous Name and Bible Belt might just give him something to think about.
O'Brien's Australian import has failed to win in four starts since landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last September and there were no excuses when a beaten favourite in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.
The Group Three Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes looks a wide-open affair in which David Wachman's Tannery appears to have improved no end, and the ultra-consistent Crius is another to keep an eye on for Richard Hannon.
The Big Bad Bob EBF (C & G) Maiden gets the action under way at 1.35 and course runner-up Leitir Mor is expected to take all the beating for Jim Bolger.
Elsewhere on the card, there is no shortage of competitive handicap action and the booking of Ryan Moore for Backbench Blues in the Paddy Power Handicap is of interest, while the unexposed Caprella is worth keeping on side in the 6f Yas Handicap.
