Oxx lands Yorkshire Oaks with Key Change victory

THE Aga Khan was left searching for his first winner in Britain since ending his boycott of racing there after Shamadara flopped in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks. The heavily backed 2 to 1 favourite finished fifth as his Irish trainer John Oxx scooped the Group One prize with Key Change.

Key Change was a place behind the French filly in the Irish Oaks but she turned the tables emphatically to defeat Papering by a length and three quarters.

Behind her the former Oxxtrained Russian Snows battled into third place but the Godolphin runner was demoted to sixth after she was found to have interfered with Whitewater Affair when beginning her challenge Her jockey Frankie Dettori received a four day ban (August 30th-September 3rd) for irresponsible riding.

Oxx has had several near misses in this race with Green Lucia, Petite Ile and Eurobird. "I have had horses run well without winning but if you are patient enough your turn comes, he said.

"I knew she was better today than before the Irish Oaks but I didn't really believe she would win. But she has won so well that we will have to consider the Irish St Leger or Prix Vermeille."

French Oaks winner Sil Sila was virtually pulled up by Ray Cochrane as she passed the line last. Trainer Bryan Smart said: "She wasn't right behind. She might have pulled a muscle. Ray knew there was something up and wasn't hard on her."

Fergal Lynch underlined his star quality when he rode an assured race to seize one of the toughest handicaps in the racing calendar. The 19 year old from Derry piloted 17 to 2 chance Clerkenwell to victory in the £100,000 added Tote Ebor Handicap to follow up a famous success at Royal Ascot.

Beauchamp Jade stayed on strongly to finish second, three quarters of a length behind the winner. Corradini, the 7 to 1 joint favourite was third, with the other joint favourite Harbour Dues fourth.

Trainer Michael Stoute, winner of the Ebor twice previously, had been so confident of Lynch's ability that he was unconcerned that the jockey had to put up 4lb overweight.

Lynch, who went to Britain three years ago when he joined Jimmy Fitzgerald, moved to Reg Hollinshead last July. He has notched 61 winners, including 55 this season.

Kieren Fallon had recommended that Lynch try his luck in, Britain and he was one of the first to congratulate the apprentice. But Fallon was bemoaning his own luck on board Corradini. Trying to get his association with trainer Henry Cecil off to a flying start, he experienced a poor run.

Favourite backers were dealt a nasty shock in the Motability Rated Handicap when heavily backed Fahim (7 to 4) was caught inside the final furlong by Amrak Ajeeb.