Shahtoush set the stage up perfectly for her stable companions in today's Derby when producing an exhilarating Oaks winning performance at Epsom yesterday. Last seen struggling behind Tarascon in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Shahtoush looked a different filly as she raced from last to first under Michael Kinane to surprise Bahr in the closing stages and win by a neck.

The favourite Midnight Line was six lengths back in third but Tarascon and her 17-year-old apprentice jockey Jamie Spencer faded spectacularly in the straight to finish only sixth. Salt was rubbed into Spencer's wound when he was handed a four-day whip ban by the stewards.

All that took place a long way from the winners enclosure where O'Brien and part owners David Nagle and John Magnier waited for Aidan O'Brien's second British classic success of 1998, a success that hoisted the Ballydoyle maestro to the top of the British trainers championship.

"She just dropped her head when the stalls opened and I was happy not to be involved with those tracking Midnight Line and Bahr," explained Kinane. "She picked up very well in the straight and I think I rather snuck up on Frankie (Dettori) and gave him a surprise. He had everything in front covered and then suddenly I shot up to him and went past." O'Brien added: "We always thought she was going to stay. I think the pace was probably slow in the Guineas and the easier ground helped here. We'll think about the Irish Oaks now."

Dettori had a frustrating day, finishing second in the Coronation Cup also, and reported: "I thought we were going to win but just as she came to win her race, the other filly came at us."

The Irish were out of luck in the Coronation Cup when Ebadiyla had another hampered Epsom run behind Silver Patriarch and Swain. John Oxx's filly was the meat in the sandwich when the fast finishing Silver Patriarch drifted left and Swain veered right off the rails. Ebadiyla was also unlucky at last year's Oaks and jockey John Murtagh ruefully said: "She won't have fond memories of this place."