KID’S STUFF FOR DONN
Teenager wins Oaks for dad
WHIZZ-KID Donnacha O’Brien bagged his second Classic of the season when steering Forever Together to a smooth success in the Investec Oaks.
The teenager even trumped Ryan Moore (on stablemate Magic Wand) by beating him to the stands rail in an audacious move which helped the 7-1 shot glide to victory at Epsom from favourite Wild Illusion.
The four-and-a-half length success was a 31st British Classic for Donnacha’s dad Aidan, who also saddled the third, fourth, fifth and eighth home.
Donnacha said: “Ryan on Magic Wand gave me a lovely tow into the race. We both went for the rail in the home straight and I just got there before him. The rail seems to be the place to be.
Maiden
“The race played out perfectly and she is a proper staying filly.”
The 19-year-old admitted that he did not give Forever Together the best of rides at Chester in the Cheshire Oaks but he made amends yesterday to turn the tables on Magic Wand.
Forever Together was also the first maiden to win the Oaks since the Willie Carson-ridden Sun Princess in 1983.
The winning jockey said: “I should have been a lot closer at Chester but got into a bit of trouble. I have ridden her in all of her work at home. She’s a real tough filly and relaxes beautifully. When I saw Magic Wand drop away at the twofurlong pole I knew it was my race.”
Donnacha also paid a glowing tribute to his father, adding: “When you are riding one of dad’s horses you have a chance. It does not matter what it is. He is an absolute genius and is able to things with these horses that I don’t understand.”
Aidan, who was winning his seventh Epsom Oaks, missed Donnacha’s victory in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saxon Warrior as he was in America saddling Mendelssohn for the Kentucky Derby.
But he was visibly emotional after welcoming his son back into the winner’s enclosure.
He said: “Donnacha rode a brilliant race. From the moment he could open his eyes as a baby he wanted to be a jockey. He is confident and works very hard. He is only 19 but I don’t have to say much to him. I am really proud and privileged to be able to do what we do.”
Owner Michael Tabor, part of the Coolmore juggernaut, said: “It is not difficult to put your faith in this family. Aidan is a genius and, more importantly, we all get along really well. Don’t forget this filly was a late May foal.”
Moore reported that Magic Wand ran well but hated the soft ground, which had prompted the field to come up the stands side, while runner-up Wild Illusion would also prefer better going, according to rider William Buick.
Donnacha rides Kew Gardens in today’s Investec Derby in a bid for a hat-trick of Classics and will once again try to upstage Moore who gets the leg-up on the red-hot favourite Saxon Warrior.