EPSOM REPORT: JAMIE SPENCER enjoyed just the second English classic success of his career at Epsom yesterday as the 9 to 4 favourite Sariska edged out Midday in a thrilling finish to the Investec Oaks.
Spencer teams up with Crowded House in today’s Derby as he attempts to become the first rider since Kieren Fallon in 2004 to bring off the prestigious Epsom classic double.
However, Johnny Murtagh will be hoping for much better Epsom fortune this afternoon on Rip Van Winkle as Aidan O’Brien’s number one jockey endured a double Group One nightmare yesterday including picking up a five-day ban for his ride on Frozen Fire in the Coronation Cup.
Murtagh was found guilty of careless riding, and will miss the last two days of Royal Ascot, featuring the Coronation Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes, after he appeared to cut off an ambitious run up his inside by the William Buick ridden Buccellati.
It didn’t get much better for him in the Oaks as Perfect Truth, who did appear to be struggling at the time, came off worst of all in a piece of scrimmaging that left the O’Brien filly trailing in last.
That incident at the top of the straight also briefly looked like spoiling Spencer’s first classic victory in Britain since Brian Boru landed the 2003 St Leger. It did however result in Spencer also receiving a five day careless riding ban.
Sariska did appear to drift left close to Midday when starting to make her run and in turn Wadaat collided into Perfect Truth. However the stewards left the positions unaltered to leave Spencer breathing a sigh of relief.
“These are the days you work for,” he said afterwards.
It was a typically cool performance by Spencer whose famous fondness for late thrusts was sacrificed for the sake of testing the stamina credentials of Sariska’s market rival Rainbow View.
She could finish only fourth but it was Midday who emerged as the favourite’s big threat, putting in a sustained effort that never quite looked like being enough.
At the line Sariska had a head to spare and her trainer Michael Bell said:
“She has always shown huge potential at home. She has been a star since day one when coming to us and now she has fulfilled all my expectations.”
Rainbow View’s trainer John Gosden was left frustrated by interference to his filly at a critical stage and said: “We got chopped off. It’s not the ideal outcome but that’s racing.”
If the Oaks was close then the Coronation Cup threw up a truly epic finish with Ask emerging best in a finish to two noses from Youmzain and last year’s Oaks winner Look Here.
Murtagh’s decision to surprisingly make the running on Frozen Fire didn’t pay off but after recovering from his clash with Buccellati, the Irish Derby winner rallied to take fifth. The stewards subsequently inquired into the race and banned Murtagh for five days (June 19th-23rd inclusive) which rules him out of races such as the Coronation Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It was Ask, however, who emerged best to score a first Group One victory under a determined Ryan Moore who rides Black Bear Island today.
“He deserves to win a Group One. The steady pace didn’t really suit but he battled back really well,” said the British champion jockey.
Michael Stoute added: “He never got a rub of the green last year. This wouldn’t be his ideal track but we felt he had a chance. What he does from now on is ground dependent.”
Youmzain’s rider Richard Hills reported: “He got there and he waited. Then when I hit him he didn’t like it so I put the stick down.”
