Look Here causes upset

EPSOM REPORT: JOHNNY MURTAGH warmed up for the Derby contender King Of Rome with a wonderful tactical ride on Soldier Of Fortune to win yesterday's Coronation Cup but Look Here's 33 to 1 Oaks victory underlined how numerical strength is no guarantee of Classic success around Epsom.

Seven Irish colts line up for this afternoon's highlight but having nine of the 16 Oaks fillies did no good for the visitors as Seb Sanders punched the shock winner clear for rookie trainer Ralph Beckett.

Aidan O'Brien's 25 to 1 outsider, Moonstone, did best of the Irish in second with Michael Kinane's mount Katiyra in third after a less than clear passage down the hill into Tattenham Corner.

It was a maiden British Classic success for both Beckett and Sanders, although the jockey had tasted Classic glory at the Curragh in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Bachelor Duke four years ago.

The joint-champion jockey said: "I made a hash of her trial at Lingfield but it was a trial and I found out a lot about her. No one asked me anything about her but deep down I thought she would run a massive race."

Jim Bolger's favourite, Lush Lashes, was in a good position early in the straight but faded in the closing stages to fifth. However, the trainer had better luck in the Coronation Cup with Soldier Of Fortune, last year's Irish Derby winner, who he bred and sold to Coolmore.

The difficulty of riding the unique Epsom contours was only emphasised when Murtagh delivered the winner Soldier Of Fortune with a sustained late run that also managed to put paid to the chances of the French favourite, Getaway.

Stephane Pasquier's task wasn't helped by his mount hanging left but with the Ballydoyle second string Macarthur wilting in front the French champion jockey must have known he was in trouble when Murtagh ranged alongside to keep him on the rail.

The two jockeys have some 'previous' from last year when Pasquier criticised the Irishman after Ascot's fillies mile.

"Johnny was brilliant on him. He got him to relax and let the race unfold in front of him. It looked to me like they wouldn't be able to catch Macarthur who's a good horse but this one is exceptional," said O'Brien.

"He's a very natural horse. With them it's only a case of minding them really. We are delighted with his progress from three to four," he added.