Juddmonte Irish Oaks |
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| Grade 1, Curragh 15:45 €500,000 guaranteed, 3yo fillies, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
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1 Savethelastdance 10/11F
2 Bluestocking 4/1
3 Library 80/1
8 ran Distances: ½l, 1¾l, 2¾l
Time: 2m 43.11s (slow by 10.51s)
Savethelastdance under Ryan Moore leaves it late to take the G1 @JuddmonteFarms Irish Oaks for a record seventh win in the Classic for Aidan O'Brien @Ballydoyle @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/IhnLrRbp9Y https://t.co/nyx6OM1kQ1 via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) July 22, 2023
A 22-length winner of the Cheshire Oaks in May, Aidan O’Brien’s Savethelastdance subsequently filled the runner-up spot behind Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom and was a warm order to go one better on home soil.
But supporters of the 10-11 favourite would have been seriously worried early in the home straight, with Moore already hard at work while British raider Bluestocking breezed into contention.
The latter looked sure to secure top honours after eventually mastering the pacesetting 80-1 outsider Library, but Savethelastdance kept responding to Moore’s urgings and flashed home to prevail by half a length and provide her trainer with an seventh victory in the Irish Classic.
“It’s a long time since she ran, she had a break after Epsom and obviously we knew this was her first run back for an autumn campaign,” said O’Brien.
“She’s a big relaxed mare. Obviously the ground was way different than what she ran on the last time.
“Chris Hayes’ filly (Azazat) just came around her when she was just starting to get going and she might have gotten a little bit intimidated by it.
“The lads were delighted with her at home, she was thriving and doing great. Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he re-motivated her. When she was in a little bit of trouble he kept her coming forward without panicking and got her out, then he asked her to come again.
“It’s a very difficult thing to motivate a horse on that type of ground but she did answer for him. He was brilliant on her.”
Considering future plans, the trainer added: “Obviously we know she stays very well. I’d say she’s going to sharpen up a good bit from today.
“You can bounce her out as forward as you want and I’d say she will find plenty and save plenty.
“She’s a massive big masculine filly, she’s unusual as she’s a filly but she has a pair of horns on her head which is very unusual for a filly. She has a big, strong backside on her.
“It’s very possible (she will stay in training next year), the lads have been doing that if everything is well over the last few years. If they decided that we’d be delighted.
“We’re treating this as her first run of an autumn campaign.”
Juddmonte Irish Oaks (Group 1)
€500,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 4f
8 ran
Going: Soft, Yielding in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5) Savethelastdance 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 10/11F
2 (7) ½ Bluestocking 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Colin Keane 4/1
3 (4) 1¾ Library 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Gavin Ryan 80/1
4 (2) 2¾ Lumiere Rock 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 12/1
5 (8) ½ Warm Heart 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Seamie Heffernan 9/2
6 (6) 1¾ Be Happy 3 9-2 A P O'Brien W J Lee 25/1
7 (1) nk Azazat 3 9-2 D K Weld Chris Hayes 7/1
8 (3) 37 Comhra 3 9-2 J S Bolger Rory Cleary 40/1
Previous Years
2022 Magical Lagoon 3 9-2 Shane Foley 5/4F (Mrs John Harrington) (Drawn 8)
2021 Snowfall 3 9-2 Ryan Moore 2/7F (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 1)
2020 Even So 3 9-2 Colin Keane 10/1 (G M Lyons) (Drawn 2)
2019 Star Catcher 3 9-0 L Dettori 7/2 (John Gosden) (Drawn 3)
2018 Sea of Class 3 9-0 James Doyle 11/4 (William Haggas) (Drawn 7)
2017 Enable 3 9-0 L Dettori 2/5Fav (John Gosden) (Drawn 6)
2016 Seventh Heaven 3 9-0 J A Heffernan 14/1 (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 9)
2015 Covert Love 3 9-0 P J Smullen 7/1 (Hugo Palmer) (Drawn 8)
2014 Bracelet 3 9-0 C O'Donoghue 10/1 (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 3)
2013 Chicquita 3 9-0 J P Murtagh 9/2 (A de Royer-Dupre) (Drawn 1)
2012 Great Heavens 3 9-0 W Buick 5/4Fav (John Gosden) (Drawn 1)
2011 Blue Bunting 3 9-0 L Dettori 5/2 (M Al Zarooni) (Drawn 3)
2010 Snow Fairy 3 9-0 R L Moore 7/2 (Ed Dunlop) (Drawn 9)
2009 Sariska 3 9-0 J P Spencer 1/1Fav (Michael Bell) (Drawn 3)
2008 Moonstone 3 9-0 J P Murtagh 2/1Fav (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 10)
2007 Peeping Fawn 3 9-0 J P Murtagh 3/1 (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 4)
2006 Alexandrova 3 9-0 K Fallon 8/15Fav (A P O'Brien) (Drawn 2)
2005 Shawanda 3 9-0 C Soumillon 9/2 (A de Royer-Dupre) (Drawn 7)
2004 Ouija Board 3 9-0 K Fallon 4/7Fav (Ed Dunlop) (Drawn 4)
2003 Vintage Tipple 3 9-0 L Dettori 12/1 (P Mullins) (Drawn 8)
2002 Margarula 3 9-0 K J Manning 33/1 (J S Bolger) (Drawn 12)
2001 Lailani 3 9-0 L Dettori 5/1 (Ed Dunlop) (Drawn 1)
2000 Petrushka 3 9-0 J P Murtagh 11/2 (Sir Michael Stoute) (Drawn 10)
1999 Ramruma 3 9-0 K Fallon 4/9Fav (Sir H R A Cecil) (Drawn 1)
