Dunlop ponders options for magical Ouija

Trainer Ed Dunlop is considering dropping back to 10 furlongs with Ouija Board after she completed the English/Irish Oaks double with an emphatic success at the Curragh yesterday.

The filly was not as impressive as when sweeping to a seven-length success at Epsom, but she was still able to emulate Ramruma, who did the double in 1999.

Kieren Fallon settled Ouija Board (4-7) towards the rear of the field in the Darley-sponsored 12-furlong contest and when he brought her to challenge Punctilious, the Epsom heroine had the best of the argument through the final furlong and won by a length.

John Oxx’s Hazarista was closest of the home brigade, finishing a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

Ouija Board is Lord Derby’s only horse in training, and Dunlop said of her: “Her great attribute is her temperament and that has helped her today.

“She has proved herself to be a true champion and I am delighted for her more than anything, although it is fantastic to win another Classic.

“She is in the Yorkshire Oaks and the Juddmonte International but we will take her home and will not be making any rash decisions.

“I would have liked to have dropped her back in trip for the Nassau (at Goodwood), but that race is only 13 days away and it may come too soon.

“I think her coming back in trip might be very interesting.

“She is a big, weak filly and she will make a much better four-year-old, although she is pretty good as a three-year-old. There is still a lot to look forward to with her.”

Fallon said: “She is a good filly, but she did not quicken away today like she did the last time.

“Dropping her back to 10 furlongs might just liven her up as she is so relaxed and lazy, although I wouldn’t be too keen to do that as she does so well over this trip.

“I wouldn’t be confident of taking on the colts as a three-year-old, either. There is plenty of time for that next year, like with Russian Rhythm.”

Godolphin’s Punctilious, third in the Vodafone Oaks, reversed the form with Epsom runner-up All Too Beautiful, who led at one stage before fading into fourth.

“We are very happy with that. She is so consistent,” said the Dubai outfit’s racing manager Simon Crisford.

“It would be lovely to win a Group One with her before the end of the season and that will be the target now.”

Hazarista was turned off at the back of the field by Michael Kinane but made steady progress down the home straight and had to be switched in the closing stages after failing to find a gap between the first two home.

“She got the trip well and we will consider the Yorkshire Oaks now,” Oxx commented.

“She had to change direction at a crucial stage, otherwise she might have been in a photo for second.”

Kinane added: “We had to change direction and she lost her way doing that, but stayed on well at the end.

“The worry before today was the trip as she takes a keen hold, but we now know that there are no problems there. You’d expect her to improve and she is a nice horse.”