Darley Irish Oaks |
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| Grade 1, Curragh 17:55 €400,000 added, 3yo fillies, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 15th July 2017 | |
1 Enable 2/5F
2 Rain Goddess 7/1
3 Eziyra 20/1
10 ran Distances: 5½l, 2l, 1¼l
Time: 2m 32.13s (slow by 1.63s)
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John Gosden's Enable held a lovely position in second under Frankie Dettori as they stalked front-running Bengala.
She eased into the lead two and a half furlongs from home and Dettori soon pushed the button for her to go and win her race.
She was ridden two furlongs out and asserted from Rain Goddess approaching the final furlong. The daughter of Nathaniel readily bounded away to win eased down from Rain Goddess. Eziyra took third, a further couple of lengths away.
Frankie Dettori said: "She was electric! She was the reason I came back so early (from injury). John Gosden nursed me back last week, it was so important for me to ride her. She's a very special filly and what a performance, it felt good from the top anyway!
"She's a true professional. I think she has probably improved since Epsom. She showed a good turn of foot and put the race to bed. I was able to enjoy the last 100 yards without giving my shoulder too much pain!"John Gosden added: "“She's probably the best we've got. She's exceptionally good and she won well at Epsom.
“I thought Frankie rode her beautifully today and it's nice to have him back. I thought sitting second to John Oxx's filly and then kicking was the way to do it. There was no real pace but she's class.
“We walked the track before and Frankie said if I'm going well I'm just going to get on with it and I'm not going to wait."
When asked could she be the best three-year-old, he replied: "That's a good question. I don't know as we didn't run in the Irish Derby where I might have found out.
“Maybe she'll take the colts on at some stage, absolutely. She is in the King George in two weeks and we'll see what we think.
“I see she's got one little cut on the outside of her hind leg so we'll have to have a look at that.
“Forty years ago I was Vincent O'Brien's assistant and I had the most brilliant time. It was very moving this week with Martin Molony dying at that wonderful age.
“I remember when I was with Vincent he said he was the finest jockey he ever put on a horse. The most beautiful hands and a great rider in all codes. He kept talking about the Hattons Grace days and I felt a lump in my throat when Martin died this week.
“And then of course Tommy Carberry who certainly knew how to ride to the best and highest standard and also play to the best and highest standard!”
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah, said: "It's very exciting. Obviously we are absolutely thrilled the way she has done it today in the style of a top-class filly.
"The way the Oaks was run at Epsom was at a breakneck speed and they really put it to her and she outstayed them with a really classy performance. Today the pace wasn't quite so energetic but she had a good position, quickened well in the straight and it was really nice to see the way she did it.
"There wasn't much pace and I think they went a nice sensible gallop. It was something at least to get a good stride into.
"As a young horse she was much more tall and lengthy and leggy than she is but she has some substance and depth to her now and also a very nice temperament which is important for these sort of occasions. She has got a bit of a kick as well.
I'd have to talk to John and Prince Khalid but the King George may come a bit too soon for her. We could go to the Yorkshire Oaks and think about other things in the autumn. She would need to be supplemented (for the Arc) but she has a little bit in the kitty now!
This was Prince Khalid Abdullah's third victory in the Irish Oaks following on from Wemyss Bight in 1993 and Bolas in 1994.
Darley Irish Oaks (Group 1)
€400,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 4f
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (6) | Enable 2/5f | L Dettori 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 3 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 5½ | Rain Goddess (IRE) 7/1 | J A Heffernan 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 3rd | (3) | 2 | Eziyra (IRE) 20/1 | P J Smullen 9-0 |
D K Weld | 3 |
| 4th | (9) | 1¼ | Coronet 6/1 | O Peslier 9-0 |
J H M Gosden | 3 |
| 5th | (1) | 2½ | Aurora Butterfly (IRE) 66/1 | W J Lee 9-0 |
W McCreery | 3 |
| 6th | (8) | 1¼ | Alluringly (USA) 16/1 | W M Lordan 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 7th | (5) | 2 | Intricately (IRE) 20/1 | D O'Brien 9-0 |
Joseph P O'Brien | 3 |
| 8th | (10) | 5 | Bean Feasa 33/1 | K J Manning 9-0 |
J S Bolger | 3 |
| 9th | (4) | ¾ | Bengala (FR) 33/1 | D P McDonogh 9-0 |
J M Oxx | 3 |
| 10th | (7) | 7½ | Naughty Or Nice (IRE) 16/1 | C T Keane 9-0 |
J M Oxx | 3 |
