Dancing delivers in Oaks thriller
Dancing Rain improved an already enviable record for trainer William Haggas, who won the Derby 15 years ago with his only ever runner in the race, Shaamit, and this was the first time one of his fillies had contested the Oaks.
Always one to err on the side of caution, Haggas believed she could make her presence felt despite boasting just a single maiden success to her name from three starts.
Murtagh's involvement was the deciding factor. He set a sluggish pace from the outset and had the guile to kick for glory three furlongs from home.
Dancing Rain, sent off at 20-1, absorbed everything Wonder Of Wonders threw at her while Izzi Top, who beat the winner in a Listed race at Newbury last time, finished four lengths further back in third.
Blue Bunting, the 1000 Guineas winner and 9-4 favourite took fourth place with Frankie Dettori banned for 10 days (June 17-27 and including two days of Royal Ascot) for failing to ride out to the line.
Murtagh, three times a winner of the Derby but, surprisingly, never before an Oaks, said: "I knew Group Ones were going to be hard to come by this year but you get a name as a go-to man and thankfully I got it.
"William rang me up a couple of weeks ago to see if I could ride but I didn't know if I would be needed by John Oxx at the Curragh. It was only last Tuesday I knew I could ride.
"I was delighted to take it. You need to be in the big races and you need to be on the animals to come out on top - thankfully I was on a good one today.
"I watched the videos of her races and she seemed to travel well and was uncomplicated. I did actually think she had a chance.
"It was straightforward. William said he'd be happy for her to go on as she stays well and we got lucky in that we didn't have to do too much in front."
In the Coronation Cup St Nicholas Abbey showed he remains a force to be reckoned with in top-level middle-distance contests with a gritty display.
Aidan O'Brien's colt looked to have the world at his feet at the start of 2010 having rounded off an unbeaten juvenile year with a breathtaking victory in the the 2009 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
He headed into the winter as ante-post favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
But a lacklustre performance in the Newmarket Classic proved to be his only start of the year and his comeback third at the Curragh in April suggested his best days may have been behind him.
He showed huge improvement to run away with Chester's Ormonde Stakes on his next start, but a trip to Epsom represented a big jump in class as he locked horns with multiple Group One-winning mare Midday.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, even-money favourite St Nicholas Abbey travelled strongly for much of the contest, but looked at the mercy of Midday when she quickened to the lead three furlongs.
But the complexion of the race changed dramatically in the closing stages as St Nicholas Abbey's stamina began to kick in and he managed to pick up Midday and score by a length.
"He's a great horse. He was easy and I messed him up last year and didn't want to mess him up again," said O'Brien.
"He has always been a natural talent and it's great for the team. All the lads were very keen to keep going with him, and I'm very grateful to have been given the chance. It was a slowly-run race and Ryan was happy the way it unfolded for him. The horse has a big heart which is marvellous.
