Snow Fairy wins Darley Irish Oaks

SNOW FAIRY put in an imperious performance in the Darley-sponsored Irish Oaks, streaking clear of her rivals in impressive fashion under a hands and heels ride from Ryan Moore, returning at 7-2.

Snow Fairy put eight lengths between herself and the Godolphin-owned 33-1 shot, Miss Jean Brodie, who won the battle for second on only her third career start under William Buick. Joseph O'Brien steered Lady Lupus, who returned at 66-1, home in third with Investec Oaks runner-up Meeznah only able to take fourth.



Ribblesdale winner Hibaayeb, who was sent off the 100-30 favourite for Frankie Dettori and Saeed Bin Suroor, was one of the first beaten, never looking dangerous and eased down with two furlongs to go before trailing home last.

Ice Empress, one of five runners for Aidan O'Brien, led the field along at a fierce early gallop, with usual front-runner Akdarena having to settle in behind. Lady Lupus and Meeznah, the eventual third and fourth, occupiedthose same positions in the early part of the race.

Snow Fairy jumped far more prominently than at Epsom but was reined back by Moore to sit in midfield alongside Dettori, fully fifteen lengths off Ice Empress. Johnny Murtagh held O'Brien first-string and Epsom Oaks third, Remember When, out the back of the field.

The field were content to sit off the strong early pace but the race changed complexion on the home turn with the strong pace taking it's toll and the majority of the field never getting competitive.

Moore, however, was travelling with consummate ease and, as those around him were hard at work, Moore surged clear on Snow Fairy. The same turn of foot that was so visually impressive at Epsom was demonstrated again on the Curragh as Snow Fairy opened up a gap on her pursuers in a matter of strides, continuing to pull away all the way to the line.

Speaking after the race, winning trainer Ed Dunlop, said: "We came here very confident of a good run as she'd definitely improved since Epsom, but we then became very worried when the rain came. She won really well and is a filly with a huge heart.

"She might go to the Yorkshire Oaks. I was successful in persuading her owner to supplement her for this and the Epsom Oaks, so I might try again for the Breeders' Cup."

Ryan Moore added: "She didn't give me as good a feel for most of the race compared to Epsom. Although she won easily she didn't appear to like the ground very much."

Miss Jean Brodie stayed on to grab second on the line from Lady Lupus, who duelled with Meeznah for the entirety of the home straight.

O'Brien said of Lady Lupus: "She ran a very good race and kept going when a lot of the others were stopping."

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Meeznah's owners Saif Ali and Saeed H Altayer: "We were a bit apprehensive about the ground and she was labouring on it over the last couple of furlongs. She gets the trip well but not on that ground."

RYAN MOORE had a rare winner in the Sue Magnier colours when Latin Love landed the Listed Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday for trainer David Wachman.

With Johnny Murtagh taking the ride on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Famous, Moore was handed the ride on the comfortable 9-1 winner.

The three-time British champion always had last year's runner-up in a handy position before he made his move about a furlong and a half from home.

The winner responded well to repel the 7-2 favourite Emulous and the late challenge of top-weight She's Our Mark to record a length-and-a-quarter victory.

An impressed David Wachman said: "She likes a bit of ease in the ground and Ryan [Moore] was very good on her.

"There's a very good programme for a filly like her and we'll have a look at all the Listed and Group 3 fillies' races."

There was disappointment for Murtagh and O'Brien as Famous finished last of the 17 runners.

PATHFORK could be a name to remember, as the Jessica Harrington-trained colt made a pleasing debut in the opening 7f maiden at the Curragh.

The contest has produced a host of top-class performers, with Teofilo and New Approach among the winners in recent years.

Aidan O'Brien won the race last year with Black Quartz, but his odds-on favourite Robin Hood had no answer to Pathfork, who won by four lengths after looming large with a furlong to travel.




Paddy Power gave the winner a quote of 20-1 for next season's 2,000 Guineas, and the €230,000 purchase is evidently held in high regard by the yard, as a step into Group company could be next on the agenda.

Harrington said: "I was a bit worried about the ground but he handled it well and looked like he will stay a mile.

"We will have a look at the Futurity [Group 2 at Fairyhouse], and go from there.

"He's a nice horse and we have liked him all along, he's always been beating our better horses at home."

DUNBOYNE EXPRESS (9-2) preserved his unbeaten record with an emphatic dismantling of his three rivals in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes

Trained by Kevin Prendergast, the juvenile had defeated the odds-on Aidan O'Brien runner Master Of Hounds on his debut at Leopardstown last month, and again lowered the colours of a Ballydoyle representative, this time the even-money favourite Samuel Morse.


Declan McDonogh was content to sit to the outside of Murtagh and Samuel Morse, as Rudolf Valentino cut out the running against the stands' rail, with debutant Glor Na Mara completing the quartet.

With over two furlongs left Rudolf Valentino began to weaken, leaving the remaining trio all in contention with Glor Na Mara widest of all.

However, with a furlong to travel, McDonogh's mount began to stride out and, after heading Samuel Morse, the pair motored away eventually crossing the line eight lengths clear of the favourite.

Ladbrokes inserted Dunboyne Express at 20-1 for next season's 2,000 Guineas, with Paddy Power even more impressed with an opening show of 14-1.

There are plenty of options for the colt and trainer Kevin Prendergast said: "He's always shown he's a nice horse since the day we got him.

"He was very very green on debut at Leopardstown and has come on a lot since then. He probably likes ease in the ground and that will have helped him today.

"He in the National and Phoenix Stakes and we will go wherever there is a nice bit of ground."

BAY KNIGHT came from near last to first to land the Rockingham Handicap atodds of 12-1, getting up on the line to overhaul 8-1 shot Luisant.

There was controversy at the start with Lough Mist, who had already burst from the stalls in the preliminaries, appearing to get the jump on the field, coming out the stalls a length and a half to the good.



The four-year-old was quickly caught however, and swamped by the field, who were ledalong in the early stages by the eventual second and third, Luisant and Bajan Tryst, who returned at 12-1.

Declan McDonogh, who was completing a double afterlanding the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes on Dunboyne Express earlier on the card, sat off the early pace, though he was never far from the leaders with little more than four lengths covering the field.

With two furlongs to go, the strong-travelling Partner looked to make a race-winning move. However he faded badly in the final 50 yards toeventually finish fourth, with both Luisant and Bajan Tryst, who were gamely staying on, if a little one-paced, appearing to benefit from the fading leader.

The one-paced nature of those in front probably helped the fast-finishing Bay Knight, who swooped late to put his nose ahead in the shadows of the post.

A miserable day for Johnny Murtagh continued, as he was beaten on yet another favourite, finishing last.