Curragh reportIt might not have been as smooth as her Epsom demolition-job but Ouija Board still managed to complete the English-Irish Oaks double with a length defeat of Punctilious at the Curragh yesterday.
The 4 to 7 favourite became the first since Ramruma in 1999 to add the Darley Oaks to the Epsom classic and just the sixth filly to do the double in the last 25 years. But if Ouija Board was brilliant in the first leg she had to show real determination in the second.
Almost serenely calm beforehand, Kieren Fallon's mount seemed to continue her leisurely manner into the contest as she broke slowly and had to be ridden to join the main pack.
Aidan O'Brien's pair, All Too Beautiful and Royal Tigress, looked set to cut out the pace until Kevin Manning decided after half a mile that he wanted more tempo on Danelissima. The others ignored that move to such an extent that the outsider was clear before the straight.
Predictably the pack eventually overhauled her but despite running in snatches, and the uncertainly with pace, Ouija Board still loomed up alongside Punctilious inside the final quarter mile.
The Godolphin runner had over 10 lengths to find from her third at Epsom and along with the 20 to 1 outsider Hazarista she served up a much harder battle to Ouija Board. However, although the margin was cut this time, a length was still enough for the Lord Derby-owned favourite.
Afterwards, trainer Ed Dunlop admitted to "relief" and added that the two and a half minutes had been "nerve-wrecking". Typically, though, Fallon reported he was never worried.
"She has gone the way we wanted," said the jockey whose only previous Irish classic success was on Ramruma.
"She was a bit keen at the start of the season but she's learned and now she goes to sleep in her races. She didn't quicken away like she did at Epsom but that's only because she is so laid back."
Dunlop was also winning the Oaks for the second time and is now leaning towards next month's Yorkshire Oaks for Ouija Board's next start.
"I'm delighted for the filly. She is now a champion. She's in the Juddmonte and the Yorkshire Oaks as well as the Arc. The more possible likelihood is the Oaks," he said.
All Too Beautiful faded to fourth in the Oaks but it was a much better day for the Aidan O'Brien team as Oratorio beat his better-fancied stable companion Cougar Cat by a length in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes.
"These two came on a good bit for Ascot where they were very green," explained O'Brien who plans to run both colts in the Group One Wedgewood Independent Stakes next month.
Jamie Spencer had to settle for the runner-up spot on Cougar Cat but he picked up the seven furlong maiden on Carneige Hall who was always holding Laudable's persistent challenge in the closing stages.
Trade Fair justified 13 to 8 favouritism in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes with a smooth defeat of One More Round.
If Ouija Board was the star filly, then Tropical Lady wasn't far behind, snaking her way through the pack to make it five in a row in the Listed race.
