Savethelastdance has the pursuers on the stretch© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Savethelastdance came on plenty from her opening fifth at Thurles to deliver in the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden at Leopardstown.
She was pushed along from the stalls by Wayne Lordan to soon dispute with stablemate All Time Great and led after a couple of furlongs of this 1m2f assignment.
Lordan increased her advantage half a mile out and the pair got rolling in the straight to keep up the gallop. She hit the line two and a-quarter lengths clear at 20/1.
Another of her stablemate's, Boogie Woogie followed her into the straight but, although staying on, could make no impression in second at 7/2 under Ryan Moore.
Dermot Weld 's Azazat the even-money favourite, raced in seventh of the 10 runners and made headway on the outer three furlongs from home. She also stayed on in third in the final furlong without laying a glove on the winner.
O'Brien said: "She had a nice run last year and, obviously, she handled the ground well and she stays well.
“We were delighted with the second filly, we thought she'd win. Ryan said he followed her, but every time he went to her she found more.
“You are never sure about that ground until you run in it.
“Dermot thought his filly (Azazat) was good and so did Joseph (O'Brien with fourth-placed Star Galaxy , so I'd say it was a decent race.
“She'll go into a trial now and she'll get further.”
Paddy Power halved Savethelastdance from 66/1 to 33/1 for the Oaks.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
