Epsom, UK: A remarkable performance by Minding under Ryan Moore saw her become the first filly since Kazzia in 2002 to complete the English 1000 Guineas and Oaks double at Epsom yesterday.
Minding’s hopes looked all but gone when she got hit in the face by the jockey of the retreating Turret Rocks and bumped by her stablemate Somehow turning into the final straight.
However, Moore kept his cool and got her into some space to overhaul Frankie Dettori on Architecture and justify her odds of 10/11 favourite winning by 1 3/4 lengths. It gave Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien his sixth win in the race and Moore just his second, having won it first in 2010.
“She’s an incredible filly. She has speed, class and is great in the head,” said O’Brien, who had seen her finish second in the Irish 1000 Guineas less than a fortnight ago which was blamed on her cutting her head when she exited the starting stalls.
“Ryan did brilliantly to win after what she went through.”
O’Brien is halfway to completing the notable double of the Oaks and the Derby for a third time. The 46-year-old - who did the double in 2001 and 2012 - runs five in today’s feature race with his leading fancy US Army Ranger, the mount of Moore.
One of Minding’s owners Michael Tabor thought yesterday’s winner should perhaps have taken her chance in the blue riband race instead and tackled the colts.
Harlequeen, trained by former England international striker Mick Channon, finished a distant third in what was the slowest Oaks in over a decade.
Dubai ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Al Maktoum’s decision this week to pay out £30,000 ($43,500, 38,500 euros) to supplement Skiffle didn’t go according to plan as although looking a danger early in the straight the filly running in the blue silks of the Shaikh’s Goldophin Operation ran out of puff quickly and trailed in well beaten.
She fared slightly better than two-time Oaks winning trainer Ralph Beckett’s runner Diamonds Pour Moi who failed to sparkle and was pulled up before entering the finishing straight.
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