Sea Of Class (yellow) comes with her winning run under James Doyle© Photo Healy Racing
James Doyle stole the show at the Curragh this afternoon, with his winning ride on Sea Of Class in the Darley Irish Oaks sure to live long in the memory.
Earlier successful on Marie's Diamond and Larchmont Lad Doyle was completing a Group race treble on this William Haggas trained Sea The Stars chestnut.
Beaten a neck into second on her debut at Newmarket in April, the Sunderland Holding Inc owned victor was since successful in two Listed races at Newbury.
Sent off at 11/4 today, she was settled in rear by Doyle. She was switched to the outer from the two furlong pole, and soon made good progress.
She was pushed along in fourth a furlong from home, and kept on best from there, getting up in the shadow of the post to prevail by a neck. Forever Together (7/2) looked set for victory from the furlong pole, but she couldn't hold off the winner, and had to settle for second under Donnacha O'Brien for his father Aidan. Mary Tudor ran a fine race to take third another length and a half back, while the 10/11 favourite Magic Wand was a very disappointing fifth under Ryan Moore.
"I did ask him to be brave but I didn't half think he'd be that brave!" said Haggas.
"He took it up fairly close home but he said she was on her game today.
"It's a big race for us, we don't come here very often. This is a very good filly and we know she's a good filly so you want it all to go right and it's come right.
"I'm a fledgling trainer for Mrs Tsui so it's nice to deliver one of these early on.
"We were never that keen on going to Epsom but it's and Oaks and Oaks' are big things. I was just coming around to running and fortunately it rained so someone up there was telling me not to run.
"To go and have a relatively easy race and have a bit more experience was great and she's trained beautifully since.
"James is in a rich vein of form at the moment, not only today, but he's been riding very well all year.
"I asked him to be brave because she's got a good turn of foot. I said 'if you are going to the front three out we are in trouble'.
"When I saw Ryan pushing and shoving I was pleased because I thought she looked magnificent in the parade ring and won really well at Royal Ascot. I saw him off the bridle and then he went and picked up Donnacha, just.
"She was in Giltown all last year and she didn't come over to us until Christmas. She always showed speed and we were always looking at her pedigree thinking 'this filly shows speed and she should get a mile-and-a-half so she must have class'.
"We ran her in a maiden at Newmarket and she got beat, over a mile mind - not surprising.
"This was the number one priority. Obviously we have all the older horse races now, like the Yorkshire Oaks, and obviously we have to make a plan.
"I think Mrs Tsui will keep her next year so we could do all those races next year."
Doyle, who won the 2,000 Guineas here on Kingman in 2014, added: "The third time I rode her I was kicking myself as I half panicked on her and thought the race was getting away from me, so I asked her to go miles too soon.
"Today she was in a beautiful rhythm and was so relaxed. I was always comfortable and it was quite a spectacular performance.
"I'm so pleased to ride a Classic winner for William and Maureen. We've had lots of nice winners, but these are the ones you want and I'm so happy and pleased that I could pay back the faith they have shown in me.
"She is very exciting. Albeit I haven't rode for William for very long, but I don't think I've seen him as excited before a big race, so I knew the signs were good."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Magic Wand, trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
