Frankie Dettori guided Enable to a five-length victory over Rhododendron in the Investec Oaks at Epsom. Check out our report, reaction from connections and watch the free video replay.
4.30 Epsom - Investec Oaks
1st Enable (6/1)
2nd Rhododendron (8/11 fav)
3rd Alluringly (16/1)
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Report
It was a case of one down, one to go for trainer John Gosden after Enable (6/1) completed the first piece of his Classic jigsaw puzzle with a decisive success in the Investec Oaks at Epsom.
With Cracksman vying for favouritism in the Derby, the Newmarket handler had his nerves eased thanks to a display of pure class from the daughter of Nathaniel, in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
There was no shortage of drama in the build up to the race, with 8/11 favourite Rhododendron arriving just over an hour ahead of the off, before American challenger Daddys Lil Darling was withdrawn after bolting to the start, forcing jockey Olivier Peslier into the ejector seat.
Pocketfullofdreams set a searching pace up front, ensuring stamina was always going to come into play at the business end of the mile-and-a-half prize, and as the early leader wilted inside the final half-mile, it was left to the top two in the betting to slug it out for top honours.
For a moment it looked as though the combination of Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore would make it three straight British Classic successes this season, with the market leader seemingly travelling with more purpose. However, that picture was to change quickly.
With both Moore and Dettori calling on their mounts for maximum effort, it was the latter that received the better response, with the Cheshire Oaks winner forging on to take top honours by five lengths.
Reaction
John Gosden said: "We knew there'd be a strong pace, but I didn't think quite that strong. I thought the clever thing from Frankie was when Ryan tried to keep us in behind Sobetsu he was aware of it.
"On a plane to France recently Ryan told me he was very impressed with the way ours had quickened at Chester, I put a lot of weight on that because Ryan is quite tight with praise normally!"
He added: "It was an epic battle, I thought the other filly had us but in the last furlong she really dominated. Frankie and Ryan are two exceptional jockeys, pound for pound the two best I've ever put on a horse.
"We can dream of the future, people are already naming races, but I'm taking it one step at a time.
"Shutter Speed beat Enable at Newbury and then won the Musidora when she hated the ground, but she's a 10-furlong filly so she'll go to France (Prix de Diane on Sunday) and we'll see what they've got.
"I see no point in going back in trip with Enable now, there's some lovely races, like the Irish Oaks."
Winning jockey Dettori said: "When I saw Ryan (Moore, on Rhododendron) wasn't moving alongside me I thought I was in trouble, but once I saw his distress signals coming I knew my filly would stay right to the end.
"She pulled away in the last furlong and is a good filly, well done to everyone at Clarehaven, you've done a good job.
"She's only run three times, she's very good. She's still a bit of a frame but I think she'll get better and better.
"In the back of my mind I thought we had a chance, the rain spoiled it a bit as I was concentrating on my game plan so I didn't have much time to celebrate crossing the line."
Aidan O'Brien, whose runners had suffered a marked delay in getting to the track after travel problems in Ireland, said of Rhododendron: "I thought she ran very well, everything went lovely and she ran a good race.
"He (Moore) didn't use the rain as an excuse, he just felt the last furlong seemed like a long furlong. Whether the trip was far enough or because she'd had a very busy day, she still ran very well though.
"I suppose she wouldn't mind going back in trip."
There was drama before the off when American challenger Daddys Lil Darling bolted to the start, with Olivier Peslier deciding to bail out just before she reached the stalls.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said: "I'm pretty well disappointed, in hindsight I wish I'd have had a pony (to accompany her to the start) but I tried to find one a couple of days ago.
"She handled the track well enough and I didn't see any problem. She was strong going into the race. Hopefully the filly is OK, we'll get back and regroup. I haven't thought beyond today, but I will be back, you can't predict that."