Bracelet beats Tapestry and Volume to win the Irish Oaks
Aidan O’Brien won the Gr1 Darley Irish Oaks for the first time in six years and achieved a 1-2 as Bracelet led home Tapestry. The favourite, Tarfasha, was a major disappointment, fading into fifth after showing up prominently at the turn for home.
The race was delayed by around 20 minutes because Volume, trained in Newmarket by Luca Cumani, was found to be wearing a type of horseshoe that is banned in Irish racing. She had to be taken from the paddock and reshod but ran as though unaffected, making most of the running and keeping on gamely for third, beaten two necks.
Bracelet’s season started poorly when she was only 14th in the English Guineas but she made partial amends with a Group Two success at Royal Ascot and now appears a significant talent.
She came into this race as O’Brien’s apparent third string, since the trainer’s son, Joseph, rode Tapestry while Ryan Moore was on Marvellous. As a result, the winning ride went to Colm O’Donoghue, an O’Brien stalwart who has never been the stable’s first jockey but has still managed to win Classic races like the Irish Derby and the French 2,000 Guineas.
“It’s great for Colm,” O’Brien said. “He’s just got beat in this race a few times and he’s also been beat in the Derby a few times. He gave her a marvellous ride and he’s a world-class rider.
“I knew Joseph was going to ride Tapestry if the ground was good and he was true to his word. Tapestry ran a great race, but she got a bit upset beforehand and circumstances conspired against her. Marvellous probably needs a little bit of ease in the ground and a bit of a rest now.”
O’Brien also saddled the fourth home, Beyond Brilliance, an 80-1 shot who was ridden by his daughter, Ana. She became the first woman to ride in the race.
Cumani explained that Volume had been fitted with “trailer” shoes, designed to prevent her from cutting into her own hind legs. The trainer said he had had no idea that the shoes were banned in Ireland, having used them “many times” in England and around the world.
“It took a bit of time and I apologise for the delay we caused, but in all honesty we just didn’t know this would be a problem,” he added. The Yorkshire Oaks is now a likely target for the filly.
Bracelet (IRE) (Bay Filly, 3 yo), B+, 232,000 €
Montjeu (IRE) – Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert
B: RONCON & CHELSTON; O: MICHAEL TABOR, DERRICK SMITH & MRS JOHN MAGNIER; T: O’BRIEN AIDAN; J: O’DONOGHUE COLM.
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