Snow Fairy completes scintillating Oaks double
Report: Curragh, Sunday
Darley Irish Oaks (Group 1) 1m4f, 3yo fillies
SNOW FAIRY put in an imperious performance in the Darley-sponsored Irish Oaks, streaking clear of her rivals in impressive fashion under a hands and heels ride from Ryan Moore, returning at 7-2.
Snow Fairy put eight lengths between herself and the Godolphin-owned 33-1 shot, Miss Jean Brodie, who won the battle for second on only her third career start under William Buick. Joseph O'Brien steered Lady Lupus, who returned at 66-1, home in third with Investec Oaks runner-up Meeznah only able to take fourth.
Ribblesdale winner Hibaayeb, who was sent off the 100-30 favourite for Frankie Dettori and Saeed Bin Suroor, was one of the first beaten, never looking dangerous and eased down with two furlongs to go before trailing home last.
Ice Empress, one of five runners for Aidan O'Brien, led the field along at a fierce early gallop, with usual front-runner Akdarena having to settle in behind. Lady Lupus and Meeznah, the eventual third and fourth, occupied those same positions in the early part of the race.
Snow Fairy jumped far more prominently than at Epsom but was reined back by Moore to sit in midfield alongside Dettori, fully fifteen lengths off Ice Empress. Johnny Murtagh held O'Brien first-string and Epsom Oaks third, Remember When, out the back of the field.
The field were content to sit off the strong early pace but the race changed complexion on the home turn with the strong pace taking it's toll and the majority of the field never getting competitive.
Moore, however, was travelling with consummate ease and, as those around him were hard at work, Moore surged clear on Snow Fairy. The same turn of foot that was so visually impressive at Epsom was demonstrated again on the Curragh as Snow Fairy opened up a gap on her pursuers in a matter of strides, continuing to pull away all the way to the line.
Speaking after the race, winning trainer Ed Dunlop, said: "We came here very confident of a good run as she'd definitely improved since Epsom, but we then became very worried when the rain came. She won really well and is a filly with a huge heart.
"She might go to the Yorkshire Oaks. I was successful in persuading her owner to supplement her for this and the Epsom Oaks, so I might try again for the Breeders' Cup."
Ryan Moore added: "She didn't give me as good a feel for most of the race compared to Epsom. Although she won easily she didn't appear to like the ground very much."
Miss Jean Brodie stayed on to grab second on the line from Lady Lupus, who duelled with Meeznah for the entirety of the home straight.
O'Brien said of Lady Lupus: "She ran a very good race and kept going when a lot of the others were stopping."
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Meeznah's owners Saif Ali and Saeed H Altayer: "We were a bit apprehensive about the ground and she was labouring on it over the last couple of furlongs. She gets the trip well but not on that ground."
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