French import Soul Searcher springs Connacht Oaks surprise for Johnny Murtagh

Having her first run for Johnny Murtagh since arriving from France, 14/1 shot Soul Searcher proved a shock winner of the Irish Stallion Farms Connacht Oaks, run in heavy ground, in Sligo last night.

Ridden by Rory Cleary, the four-year-old stable second string stayed on strongly up the straight to keep top-weight Ringside Humour at bay by two lengths, with favourite Lagostoevags back in third.

“That’s a bit of a surprise – I was fancying Sister Blandina (finished fourth) on the way down,” admitted winning trainer Murtagh. “This is a tough, genuine, staying filly. Eddie (of Giggisntown fame, husband of winning owner Wendy O’Leary) bought her with a view to getting some black type and that’s the plan, although she has a bit to go to get there. He told me she handled soft ground in France and she seemed to relish it out there.”