3 minute read
Aidan O’Brien gained a record seventh Irish Oaks success after Savethelastdance pulled it out of the fire late on.
Aidan O'Brien's filly looked seriously impressive when landing the Cheshire Oaks by a staggering twenty-two lengths back in May and subsequently only found Soul Sister too strong when runner-up in the Epsom Oaks a month later.
The daughter of Galileo was sent off the 10/11 favourite to go one better in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh this afternoon, but supporters would have been on the verge of throwing their tickets away with Ryan Moore hard at work a long way from home.
It was the sole British raider, Bluestocking, who travelled best of all in her bid to give race sponsors Juddmonte a day to remember and she looked almost certain for Classic glory having mastered the front-running 80/1 chance Library inside the final furlong. However, Savethelastdance continued to plug away at her rivals after appearing badly outpaced with four furlongs to run and she began to inch closer with every stride. A determined Ryan Moore would fail to give in, and the pair eventually wore down the Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking (4/1) to score by half a length.
Library finished a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third under Gavin Ryan.
Savethelastdance traded an astonishing 999/1 in running on the Betfair exchange with £12.54 matched at the ceiling price.
The master of Ballydoyle said: "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."
"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."
O'Brien 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."