Oasis ends Choisir dream

Oasis Dream put an end to the winning run of Australian sensation Choisir in a thrilling renewal of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket today.

Choisir had beaten Oasis Dream when he landed the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot – one of two successes at the famous meeting for Antipodean fireball.

But hopes were high that Oasis Dream, third on what was his seasonal debut that day, could reverse the form at Headquarters.

And the John Gosden-trained three-year-old, ridden by Richard Hughes, did indeed get the better of Paul Perry’s ace by one and a half lengths at odds of 9-2, but only after a protracted duel in the final furlong.

Choisir, the 9-4 favourite, burst out of the stalls from trap one under Johnny Murtagh but he was soon shadowed by Oasis Dream, whom Hughes had in a perfect position.

Those two had the race to themselves in the final furlong, although the filly Airwave (11-4), who met trouble in running, came through strongly to finish just a neck away in third. The French-trained Zipping was fourth.

“The plan was to ride a positive race. I was pleased after four furlongs to see Richard had plenty of rein dangling, because I knew there was more to come,” said Gosden.

“We had to ride an aggressive race so that when we attacked Choisir up the hill we only had two lengths to make up. There was no point in trying to come at him from six back, because he comes again.”

Hughes admitted that all had gone more or less to plan.

“I actually missed the kick strangely enough – away from the gate I was definitely a length down,” he told Channel 4

“Johnny was going well on the fence but I was going equally as well. I was hoping Johnny would just bring me to the furlong pole, and then I’d outstay him.

“When I got to Johnny, he went again and the two of us were level-pegging for a good 50 yards, and then my lad pulled away.”

Perry took the defeat on the chin.

“He’s been beaten by a horse that was trained for the race. The winner was on his way up, while we were probably just on the way down,” he said.

“He’s done the job he came here for and it was a very courageous effort to finish second in a race that was really just an afterthought.”

Perry added that Choisir, who has still not been sold, was unlikely to race again before the Hong Kong Sprint in December.

“The winner was trained for the race,” said Murtagh.

“He had probably come on at least a couple of lengths from Ascot and that’s what beat us.

“My fellow was brave. He fought him all the way but just couldn’t hold him off. I’ve had a great association with the horse and he certainly didn’t disgrace himself.”

Henry Candy felt that his runner Airwave was slightly unlucky.

He said: “Kieren (Fallon) had some trouble getting a run and she might have been a bit unlucky, although she would not have beaten the winner.

“We will train her for the Nunthorpe. There is not much else for her.”