Betfred Oaks
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Group 1, Epsom Downs 16:00
£550,000 guaranteed
3yo fillies only,
1m 4f 6y, Class 1   
Friday 6th June 2025

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1 Minnie Hauk 9/2
2 Whirl 15/2
3 Desert Flower 11/10F
9 ran Distances: nk, 4l, 1l
Time: 2m 38.91s (slow by 3.31s)

And it’s another masterstroke from Aidan O’Brien as Minnie Hauk edged out stablemate Whirl in a Ballydoyle-dominated race that will live long in the memory at Epsom.

The race had barely begun before the short-priced favourite Desert Flower, winner of the 1000 Guineas, found herself under the pump—a clear sign that stamina might just catch her out. To her credit, she dug deep, rallying in the final furlong to hold on for third, but the damage was done.

Up ahead, it became a private duel between the Ballydoyle pair. Whirl, bold and brave from the front, set the tempo and looked to have them all off the bridle turning in. But with Ryan Moore playing the long game on Minnie Hauk, the race came to the boil inside the final furlong. The 9-2 shot, travelling powerfully, had to knuckle down late, and in a finish full of grit and class, she inched past her stablemate to score by a neck.

It was vintage Moore—patience, precision, and a well-timed punch at the death.

A clearly delighted O’Brien was full of praise:

“She’s a very classy filly. She barely made Chester, she was just ready to run, but the leap she’s made since is something abnormal. It’s not fitness—it’s sheer class.”

He added:

“Ryan gave her a beautiful ride, he really clicked with her at Chester and he loved her again today. She’s still a bit green, but she’ll come forward a lot from this. She travels like a dream—he said he was going very easy early on, and that tells you she might be able to go up a gear again.”

There was plenty of admiration too for the gallant runner-up:

“Whirl ran a great race—she stays and she was fighting back at the line. It’s incredible, really. These Wootton Bassetts—known for speed—are staying, too.”

Ryan Moore, cool as ever in the aftermath, offered insight into his ride:

“She broke well, travelled strongly and I just wanted to make sure I was in control. Maybe she overdid it early and then just took a bit of a nap on me. The filly in front was no mug—she kept stretching—but when I asked my filly, she picked up beautifully, and when Whirl came back at her, she found again.”

He added, with a nod to greatness:

“I’ve been lucky to ride some exceptional fillies in this race—Love, Minding, Snow Fairy—this one’s got a bit to go, but the potential is all there. She’ll improve a lot for the run.”

Next stop? Likely the Irish Oaks or Nassau Stakes, though the long-range plan could be even more ambitious.

O’Brien, with the glint of October already in his eye, said:

“She could be an Arc filly. She can handle a stronger tempo, she’s got gears, and she’s got class. There’s the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire, the French trials—but all roads could lead to ParisLongchamp.”

And on this evidence, she might just belong in that company.

SureWIn

Betfred Oaks
£550,000 guaranteed,
3yo only, 1m 4f 6y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    Minnie Hauk 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/2
2 (9) nk Whirl 23 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 15/2
3 (1) 4 Desert Flower 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 11/10F
4 (8) 1 Wemightakedlongway 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 16/1
5 (3) 3½ Giselle 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Colin Keane 13/2
6 (6) 2½ Revoir 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 22/1
7 (5) 1 Elwateen 3 9-2 Saeed bin Suroor Jim Crowley 14/1
8 (7) ½ Qilin Queen 3 9-2 Ed Walker Tom Marquand 20/1
9 (4) 1¾ Go Go Boots 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Oisin Murphy 33/1

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