Savethelastdance Storms Home To Win Irish Oaks

Savethelastdance (3f Galileo – Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy) stayed on strongly to provide Aidan O’Brien with his seventh success in the Group 1 Irish Oaks, thus beating the record six he previously shared with Sir Michael Stoute.

The beautifully-bred daughter of Galileo impressed in a Leopardstown maiden early in the season, before outclassing her rivals in the Listed Cheshire Oaks, which she won by all of 22 lengths. She finished a gallant second in the Epsom Oaks last month and was sent off favourite to gain compensation at the Curragh on Saturday.

Settled behind the leaders by Ryan Moore, she was pushed along on the turn for home and was ridden to challenge soon after. The chesnut appeared to sprout wings entering the final furlong, as she ran on strongly to lead close home, beating Bluestocking (Camelot) by half a length on the line. Stablemate and long-time leader Library (Galileo) took third, while Lumiere Rock (Saxon Warrior) finished fourth.

Savethelastdance is out of the Grade 1 winning Scat Daddy mare Daddys Lil Darling, but it was her sire that O’Brien saw in her game performance. “All the Galileo came out when Ryan really wanted her, she got down for him,” he said. “I'm over the moon for the lads, she's another unbelievable broodmare prospect. It's very possible she will stay in training - the lads have been doing that if everything is well over the last few years. If they decided that we'd be delighted.”

Owned by Coolmore partners and Westerberg, Savethelastdance completed the second leg of a treble on the card for Ballydoyle, with Coolmore homebred Henry Longfellow having run out a smart debut winner of the opener. O’Brien, Coolmore, Westerberg and Moore celebrated back-to-back Group wins when Emily Dickinson later captured the Group 2 Curragh Cup, marking a third Stakes success for the daughter of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita (Montjeu).