Venus De Milo gives O’Brien a timely boost

Aidan O’Brien, whose horses have been struggling somewhat of late, received a timely Royal Ascot boost when Venus De Milo landed the Group 3 Munster Oaks Stakes at Cork yesterday.

The daughter of Duke Of Marmalade performed moderately on her reappearance behind Missunited in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown, but clearly came on for that.

She got a dream run up the far rail for Joseph O’Brien to hit the front with over a furlong to run. Her stable companion, Dazzling, never out of the first two, kept going well, but it was all Venus De Milo in the closing stages, as she crossed the line comfortably in charge.