Minding makes light of trouble to claim Oaks at Epsom

Minding overcame adversity to claim her second Classic success of the year in the Investec Oaks. Aidan O’Brien’s filly was a stunning winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May and while she suffered defeat when chasing the Guineas double at the Curragh less than a fortnight ago, she was the 10-11 favourite to get back on the winning trail at Epsom.

With his mount stepping up half a mile in distance, Ryan Moore rode a patient race, but found himself in a spot of bother rounding the turn for home.

For a moment it looked as though Minding would have nowhere to go, but when the gap did come, she picked up quite brilliantly and was well on top at the line.

Architecture ran an excellent race to fill the runner-up spot, a length and three-quarters away, with Harlequeen back in third.

“I just had nowhere to go, but the filly got me out of trouble,” said Moore. “She was much the best (horse). She’s a very good filly.”

Minding was originally set to head straight for Epsom after her Newmarket triumph, but was drafted in as a late substitute for stable companion Ballydoyle in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

While her narrow defeat to Jet Setting at the Curragh was a big surprise, connections revealed she had suffered a minor head injury in the starting stalls but were happy to let her turn out just 12 days later.

For a moment it looked as though the Hugo Palmer-trained Architecture may have stolen a march on the favourite, but it is a measure of Minding’s ability that she managed to overcome a severely troubled passage and still win with plenty in hand.

Moore added: “I had a charmed run, initially, but then they boys all wanted to get moving and came in on top of me.

“Her class got her out of trouble but she’ll be effective over shorter trips, for sure.”