Moonstone another for all-conquering O’Brien
O’Brien trained both and, understandably, admitted afterwards that he “didn’t mind’ which scored. For punters, however, it was of grave concern, with Moonstone, the eventual winner by a short head, a heavily-backed 2-1 favourite and Ice Queen a real rag at 66-1.
Johnny Murtagh conjured a sustained burst from Moonstone to mug Colm O’Donoghue and Ice Queen on the line to continue the inimitable duo’s amazing run.
Extraordinarly, this was the seventh Irish classic in-a-row O’Brien has won and he has to be long odds-on to make it eight in the Leger.
The fact he can chose between the likes of Yeats, Septimus and Honolulu simply speaks for itself.
It was O’Brien’s 13th Group 1 success of the season and Murtagh’s 11th. O’Brien has now won the Oaks three year-in-row, while Murtagh has won the contest five times in all.
Ballydoyle horses filled the first five places for much of the journey and a top-class team in the Tour de France wouldn’t have packed in better!
Perhilion carried them along, but off the home turn stable companion, Adored, took over. Soon, however, there was a new leader representing Ballydoyle, Ice Queen.
Murtagh was soon out after the leader, though, and, in a nail-biting tussle, just managed to grab the advantage in the very last stride.
For Moonstone, having only a fourth outing, it was some way to lose her maiden tag and she was the first maiden to win the Oaks since Olwyn in 1977.
Said Murtagh: “I had a great run all the way and she got her head down. She is still green, so I would say there’s more to come. Thankfully, I came out on top.”
O’Brien said: “That was a great race, the two fillies and jockeys gave their all. That was the usual masterful ride from Johnny and Colm was brilliant.
“Moonstone stays really well and could now go for the Yorkshire Oaks. Ice Queen may be better at a mile and a quarter and she could head for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
“Moonstone is one of those fillies who is like a deer, she has lovely eyes and big ears! This is unbelievable for everyone involved. I have to pinch myself every morning, to be working with such special people.”
The principals got very close through the final furlong. O’Donoghue kept his whip in his right hand and it was no surprise when he was suspended for two days for careless riding.
The third, French challenger, Gagnoa, was done no favours in the process, but wouldn’t have finished any closer in any case.
John Oxx’s Katiyra, third behind Look Here and Moonstone at Epsom, clearly failed to stay, a remark which could be even more emphatically levelled at Mad About You.
