Moore magic casts a spell for Dunlop
Trainer Ed Dunlop, who captured the race with Ouija Board in 2004, and owner Cristina Patino put the prize money gained from the fillies’ success at Goodwood just 16 days ago to good use by paying £20,000 to add her to the field.
And three-times title holder Moore stepped up to the plate aboard the 9-1 chance as he weaved a passage through a rough race to lead inside the final furlong and deny Meeznah by a neck.
Aidan O’Brien’s Remember When was another to come from off the pace and take third, with Rumoush fourth.
Moore was content to bury his filly back in the field early on, but faced a wall of horses entering the home straight on a sweltering afternoon in the London suburbs.
He seized the moment when a gap appeared and fought his way through runners for a comfortable success.
But even the giddy joy of a classic win failed to move the notoriously reserved jockey.
When quizzed about how he rated his mount heading into the race, he quipped “about 14-1, or something like that”.
And the 26-year-old added: “I don’t worry too much about classics, but it is nice to get the opportunity to win one. It doesn’t feel that different though – it is not the Derby.”
His chance to win the Derby will follow today aboard Workforce and Dunlop was left to convey the elation of the moment.
He said: “I’ve lost my voice, it’s amazing. I have to thank the owner as it was all her idea and it is a fantastic day.
“There was no pressure from the owner and she is a wonderful woman. She has come from last and it was a masterful ride from a masterful jockey.
“As soon as we’d decided we were going to run in the race, I had a look at what Michael Stoute had and when it was obvious he was going to have nothing, we got straight on to Ryan and he agreed. We wanted a great jockey and this is a great day.
“She had a minor issue early on in the season which meant we missed a classic trial and the whole story is a bit of a fairytale.”
With the filly only being added to the Oaks field five days ago, connections had not looked beyond Epsom but the Irish Oaks at the Curragh next month would appear the most likely next step.
Dunlop added: “This is her big day and we’ll see what happens next as she’s not in any other big races. Ouija Board went straight to the Irish Oaks as many Epsom winners do and we could do that.
“I will discuss it with the owner and if they are happy then that is probably where we will go.”
Moore had only had two previous rides in the Oaks, finishing 13th on Sail in 2008 and sixth on Phillipina last year.
The rider added: “It was a very rough race. We just decided to take her back and give her a chance. There was a lot of bumping around.
“I switched her out to follow the second horse through. There was a nice gap that appeared and my girl quickened real well.
“The gap was big enough and she had plenty of speed to take it.
“It was a messy race, but I was quite confident three furlongs out.”
The winning owner was keen to praise the trainer. She said: “I give Ed all of the credit. It was a wonderful bit of training and we talk all things through together. Ryan gave her the most extraordinary ride.”
David Lanigan, trainer of the runner-up, said: “She was struggling a little for room when they turned in and we had missed that second run that we wanted, but saying that I do think she will improve a lot for the race and we’ll have to go to Ireland (Irish Oaks) now.”
O’Brien said he was “delighted” with the performance of Remember When, while Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, owner of fourth home Rumoush, said: “Richard Hills’ impression was that she didn’t handle the cambers and she was struggling to find her feet when he asked her for an effort.”
Henry Cecil appeared to have a strong hand as he chased a remarkable ninth Oaks success, but his pair Aviate and Timepiece could only finish seventh and ninth respectively.
“They both didn’t come down the hill and Tom (Queally) said Aviate didn’t stay,” said Cecil. “They both came into the race very well so I’m very disappointed.”
Bookmakers were understandably pleased with the outcome. David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “Snow Fairy left the punters in the cold as the money flooded in for Aviate and the other market leaders.
“In the most wide open Oaks market for a generation, we were blessed with a good-looking result.”
