Peeping Fawn (Johnny Murtagh up) winning the
the Darley Irish Oaks from Light Shift on Sunday

Peeping Fawn wins Darley Irish Oaks
By Tom Krish

Jul 16, 2007

Peeping Fawn left the maiden ranks on 16th May at Naas ( race course) in Ireland. She was then third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Five days later, she lost to Light Shift by less than a length in the 2400-metre Oaks at Epsom Downs. On June 30, she won the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (with older diataffers) over 2000 metres in decisive fashion. On Sunday, she won another Group I race, the Darley Irish Oaks over 2400 metres for sophomore girls at the Curragh.

"You saw what she did. She is progressing. There is more to come. From Epsom to the Curragh, she got better," an ecstatic Aidan O'Brien, Peeping Fawns, trainer, said. Peeping Fawn's sire is Danehill. Her dam is Maryinsky by Saddler's Wells.

Peeping Fawn was re-opposing Light Shift, her conqueror in the Oaks at Epsom. The latter was coming back after six weeks. The ground at the Curragh on Sunday was termed 'soft to heavy.' Peeping Fawn, the early favorite at 9-4, drifted to 4-1 at one point only to get down to 3-1. Light Shift opened at 7-4 and closed at 9-4. Peeping Fawn, in the hands of Johnny Murtagh lay in mid pack and went in chase of Light Shift who had stalked the leaders and taken over with less than 400 metres out. Peeping Fawn engaged Light Shift to a brief tussle and began edging ahead with 200 metres to go. The margin widened to 3 1/2 lengths as Peeping Fawn paced on resolutely in the uphill run-up to the line. The time was 2 39.12 seconds for 2400 metres. All My Loving was third in the Epsom Oaks and ran third again in the Irish Oaks. The race was worth 189,527 pounds to the winner.

Aidan O'Brien talked about Peeping Fawn's pedigree. "She has one of the finest pedigrees in the world. She showed in season Sunday morning but she was in top form. I am pleased she handled the ease in the ground well."

Johnny Murtagh, the winning rider, was full of praise for his mount. "To pick up a ride like this, it is great. No worries about her getting 2400 metres. Ted (Light Shift's jockey) was going well but my filly was travelling better."

Michael Tabor, the winning owner, was adding a feather to his feather-filled cap. "She may go in the Nassau at Goodwood. She is getting better all the time," he stated.

Light Shift's trainer, Henry Cecil was gracious. "Light Shift ran very well. She is better on better ground. On this day on heavy ground, Peeping Fawn was better. There will be another day."

Johnny Murtagh was deputizing for Kieren Fallon. Fallon had a fall at Longchamp on Eagle Mountain on Saturday in the Group I Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. Though he avoided serious injury, Fallon was shaken up and was not fit enough to go to Dublin for his riding engagements. The Paris race was won by Zambezi Sun, ridden by Stephen Pasquier. The result stood after a stewards' inquiry. The winning margin was five lengths. Zambezi Sun is by Dansili. His dam is Imbabala, a Zafonic mare. The purse was 231,649 pounds. The time was 2 31.6 seconds for 2400 metres on good to soft ground.

It was Zambezi Sun's fourth career start. He has won three of them. He was an eye-catching fourth in the French Derby in early June after a trouble-filled trip.

"Pascal Bary, the winning trainer exuded optimism. "He (Zambezi Sun) has ability. I am happy the inquiry did not change the result. He won very easily. The Arc definitely is a target."

The winning owner is Khalid Abdullah. Rail Link, also owned by the same owner, won the Juddmonte Grand Prix on his way to winning the Arc de Triomphe last year.

Based on reports from Racing Post and Sporting Life Tom Krish in Chicago.