Savethelastdance grabs victory from jaws of defeat in Irish Oaks

Savethelastdance claimed victory from the jaws of defeat in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

A 22-length winner of the Cheshire Oaks in May, Aidan O’Brien’s filly subsequently filled the runner-up spot behind Soul Sister in the Oaks at Epsom and was a warm order to go one better on home soil.

But supporters of the 10-11 favourite would have been seriously worried early in the home straight, with Moore already hard at work while British raider Bluestocking breezed into contention.

The latter looked sure to secure top honours after eventually mastering the pacesetting 80-1 outsider Library, but Savethelastdance kept responding to Moore’s urgings and flashed home to prevail by half a length and provide her trainer with a seventh victory in the Irish Classic.

On Betfair, £12.54 was matched on Savethelastdance at the ceiling price of 999/1 in-running.

“It’s a long time since she ran, she had a break after Epsom and obviously we knew this was her first run back for an autumn campaign,” said O’Brien.

“She’s a big relaxed mare. Obviously the ground was way different than what she ran on the last time.

“Chris Hayes’ filly (Azazat) just came around her when she was just starting to get going and she might have gotten a little bit intimidated by it.

“The lads were delighted with her at home, she was thriving and doing great. Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he re-motivated her. When she was in a little bit of trouble he kept her coming forward without panicking and got her out, then he asked her to come again.

“It’s a very difficult thing to motivate a horse on that type of ground but she did answer for him. He was brilliant on her.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “Obviously we know she stays very well. I’d say she’s going to sharpen up a good bit from today.

“You can bounce her out as forward as you want and I’d say she will find plenty and save plenty.

“She’s a massive big masculine filly, she’s unusual as she’s a filly but she has a pair of horns on her head which is very unusual for a filly. She has a big, strong backside on her.

“It’s very possible (she will stay in training next year), the lads have been doing that if everything is well over the last few years. If they decided that we’d be delighted.

“We’re treating this as her first run of an autumn campaign.”

Emily Dickinson kicked in the turbo to get back on the winning trail in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup.

The daughter of Dubawi was the spring favourite for the Gold Cup following an impressive start to her campaign in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan – and while a disappointing run in the Saval Beg dented her claims, she bounced back to finish a creditable fourth in last month’s Royal Ascot showpiece.

Dropping in distance and class for this one-mile-six-furlong Group Two, Emily Dickinson was the 6-4 market leader to complete a quick-fire big-race double for O’Brien and Moore after Savethelastdance powered home from an unpromising position to secure the Irish Oaks.

Emily Dickinson looked like she too could have a real fight on her hands when her chief market rival Rosscarbery breezed into contention, but Moore kept pushing on the favourite and in the end she was well on top, passing the post with three lengths in hand.

The winner will now be readied for a tilt at the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on August 1.

“The original plan was that she would go straight to Goodwood for the two-mile Group One, but when the ground changed we said we’d let her take her chance here,” said O’Brien.

“Everyone was happy with her at home and that’s why she came here. I was a bit worried that she was a couple of pieces of work away but Ryan gave her a beautiful ride and got her very confident.

“She loves the ground and loves being ridden like that. With that ease in the ground she’s a different filly. She goes on the other ground, she’s very genuine and tries very hard, but on that ground she grows another leg.

“The plan was to go to Goodwood, over two miles, and if the ground came up with an ease in it she’ll be right there.”

The impeccably-bred Henry Longfellow earned Classic quotes following a striking debut in the Juddmonte Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

A son of Dubawi out of seven-time Group One-winning mare Minding, the latter trained like Henry Longfellow by Aidan O’Brien, he went off the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore and travelled powerfully throughout.

Mythology, a creditable fifth in the Group Two Railway Stakes, did his best to get on terms, but Henry Longfollow was well on top as he passed the post with a length and three-quarters in hand.

Betfair make the winner a 25-1 shot for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby next season.

“I’m delighted with him. He’s a Dubawi out of Minding and he looks like a lovely horse,” said O’Brien.

“She handled that ground and he does bend his knee a bit but he quickens. You’d have to be very happy with him.

“Ryan said it was very easy and he said he didn’t touch him with the stick, he was very happy with him.

“He had been working well, he just came on the scene lately. For the last three weeks, week after week he was working well. He’s an exciting type of horse.”