Epsom form turned over in Irish Oaks

Although only seven fillies faced the starter in Saturdays Irish Oaks, it was a race brimful of interest.

With the Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together, as well as Magic Wand and the highly regarded Sea Of Class all in contention, we were treated to a thrilling finish as the latter struck close home to defeat the Epsom heroine.

Magic Wand, who could finish only fourth at Epsom but was a runaway winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, went to post an odds-on favourite as punters felt that Forever Together needed a cut in the ground and the fact that she was beaten by Urban Fox in the Pretty Polly Stakes did not inspire confidence.

However, that race was over a mile and two furlongs but with her Epsom partner Donnacha O'Brien back on board she was quietly fancied by some shrewd judges to confirm the Oaks form. The joker in the pack was Sea Of Class who had just a couple of Listed victories to her credit but the fact that she is a late May foal, the decision by connections to give her a chance to mature and bypass Epsom proved to be inspirational.

Shamie Heffernan elected to make the running on Bye Bye Baby and was joined by Forever Together with fully half a mile to race. Donnacha O'Brien was taking no prisoners aboard the latter as he sent her to the front shortly after entering the straight. For a time this tactic looked like paying rich dividends until James Doyle produced Sea Of Class with a devastating run down the outside which saw them reel in the leader and land the spoils by a neck with Mary Tudor a length and a half further back in third place.

 

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