Chistophe Soumillon, sensing that there would be a slow pace if he was
not up front, darted to the top with Shirocco. Ouija Board lay second
and Ace raced third. Fallon quickened to assume command after the
halfway point to step up the pace. Shirocco lay not more than a length
away. As they negotiated Tattenham Corner, Shirooco, prompted by
Soumillon, ranged alongside Ace. The two of them went neck and neck and
it was clear Ace was fighting a losing battle. As Shirocco began to draw
clear, Ouija Board joined issue. They raced past the quarter pole with
Shirocco in a slender but precarious lead. With Soumillon and Frankie
Dettori putting on an exhilarating exhibition, the Oaks Day crowd rose
to its feet. Inside the final furlong, under a relentless Soumillon
drive, the Andre Fabre-trained Shirocco started to edge away. The margin
was 1 ¾ lengths and the 12-furlong trip was covered in 2.37.6 seconds.
The total prize money was 250,000 pounds.
Ten sophomore fillies answered the starter's call in the Vodafone Oaks.
The purse for the Oaks was 441,400 pounds. Short Skirt was fractious and
delayed the start. Speciosa, the winner of the 1,000 Guineas, set a
brisk pace. Riyalma and Short Skirt lay in striking range. Alexandova
raced in 9th position and Kieren Fallon seemed in no hurry as they raced
past the six-furlong marker. There was palpable anxiety as the Aidan
O'Brien trainee, many believed, had been given too much ground to make
up as Fallon set her alight. Speciosa was being collared as Alexandrova
put her stride into action. Taken to the extreme outside, Alexandrova
put in a burst of speed that had to be seen to be believed. In a trice,
she was in front and there was another furlong to go. All Fallon had to
do was to remind her that the job was not fully done. It was a
six-length victory and the winning time was 2.37.7 seconds. Rising
Cross, an outsider, headed the beaten brigade. Short Skirt took third.
It was the fourth Oaks victory for Fallon and the third for Aidan
O'Brien. "We were seriously compromised by that early stumble in the
Musidora at York. I knew all along she would redeem herself," O'Brien
said.
At the post-Oaks press conference, I asked Kieren Fallon if going to the
outside was by design because he wins his big races with ground-saving
journeys and finding room in the middle part of the track. "That's the
way the race developed. I had full confidence in the filly. I knew I had
the race won when I made the move," he said.
I reminded Fallon of 2004 when he won the Oaks with Ouija Board and on
the following day, won the Derby with North Light. "Would you like a
prayer to be said?" "That would be nice. Horatio Nelson has come on
well."
"Would the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs be in Alexandrova's
schedule?" I directed the question to Aidan O'Brien. With O'Brien's
nudging, Fallon said." You know, the Breeders Cup is a big goal. This
filly is capable. It is a long way off."
Alexandrova is by Saddler's Wells and a grand-daughter of Northern
Dancer. She is out of Shouk, a Shirley Heights mare. Shirley Height's
sire was Mill Reef.
In Saturday's Derby, Visindar is being quoted at 2-1. There is a school
of thought that Horation Nelson would be the public choice at post time.
Given Soumillon's excellent handling of Shirocco, the confidence level
of the British fans has gone up. Several English racing writers are
saying that Visindar has a lot of style and not as much substance but
are not making an impact on the betting public.
