Irish coach Dermot Weld took the Oaks at Epsom this afternoon (31 Might), when Ezeliya powered house to take the Betfred-sponsored race underneath Chris Hayes for proprietor HH The Aga Khan IV.
It was a second success within the mile and a half fillies’ Basic for Mr Weld, 43 years after Lester Piggott partnered Blue Wind to victory within the 1981 renewal.
“Ezeliya is a queen. She’s a really skilled, strong-travelling filly. She did all the pieces proper, and didn’t take a step flawed,” stated Chris, who can be an Irish 1000 Guineas-winning jockey.
“I simply wished to maintain momentum on her and angle her out on the high of the straight and he or she simply leapt onto the bridle once more. I knew she’d keep and I knew she had class – it’s sensible.”
Mr Weld stated: “It’s a extremely big day. We’re very lucky to have a filly for his Highness [The Aga Khan] nearly as good as this.
“Persistence has paid dividends along with her. We took our time along with her as a two-year-old and gave her simply the one run this 12 months when she gained properly at Navan.
“I stated to Chris to only experience the same race on her, experience her with confidence and take your time to get her right into a rhythm earlier than you let her go. I by no means frightened in regards to the distance along with her – she’s a stayer with pace.”
It was a primary British Basic success for Chris.
“You’ll be able to have all of the sprinters you want however give me a Basic any day of the week, that’s what you’ll be remembered for,” stated Chris. “Any Basic winner is particular and I’ve been very lucky.”
Mr Weld stated: “Chris gave her a phenomenal experience. That was the plan, to experience her the identical as he rode her at Navan, the place he dropped her out final. She loves to return from off the tempo.
“She’s a really real, courageous filly, and her dam was an excellent race mare I skilled, however this filly in all probability has a bit extra pace and a bit extra class, she’s very progressive and I used to be assured she would keep.
“She received a phenomenal experience from Chris Hayes and he or she had the race gained a great distance out. She was cantering, and he or she received a stunning run down the hill. Chris received her balanced and right into a rhythm earlier than he let her go.”
Talking of potential future plans for this filly, Mr Weld stated: “We’ll see how she comes out of the race. She’s not a giant filly, and Classics at all times take one thing out of a horse, we’ll evaluation it.
“She is within the Irish Oaks, however we’ll resolve whether or not we give her break day for an autumn marketing campaign, which can contain the Arc.”
Persevering with to mirror on his profitable experience, Chris defined: “She moved ahead faster than I believed she was going to. I by no means had a second’s doubt, as soon as I used to be approaching the furlong pole, I knew nothing was going to have the ability to come as shortly as she was going to complete. It took me proper to the top to tug her up – it’s in all probability as a result of I used to be celebrating as properly, however I had a superb little bit of petrol left. It was sensible.”
The horses in behind
Ezeliya went off as second favorite within the Epsom Oaks at odds of 13/2, whereas the favorite Ylang Ylang (11/8) completed nine-and-a-half lengths down in sixth underneath Ryan Moore for coach Aidan O’Brien. Dance Sequence completed second underneath William Buick for coach Charlie Appleby and proprietor Godolphin, three lengths behind the winner. This stylish filly regarded unbalanced on the infamous Epsom camber within the latter phases of the race, however is certainly one to look at for the longer term.
Mr Appleby stated: “She did discover the monitor difficult, sure. I believe William was simply glad to get her throughout the road in the long run. He stated we had been in all probability outstayed, realistically, however he needed to make his transfer when he did – the race was coming again to him and he or she was going ahead, and I completely agree with him on all features there. It was a really pleasing run and we’ll have some enjoyable along with her in the summertime, and extra within the autumn after we know she appreciates lower within the floor.”
The 50/1 shot Warfare Chimes completed a creditable third within the Epsom Oaks end result, four-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, underneath Tom Marquand for coach David Menuisier and proprietor Tars Farm Equestrian Stud.
Mr Menusier stated of his filly’s Epsom Oaks end result: “It was like profitable. She’s an unbelievable filly. The final time she ran in France, there was no tempo, she was pulling too arduous and he or she had no cowl, and he or she couldn’t chill out. I simply draw a line by means of that and I at all times felt that she’d be higher at 1m4f.”
2024 Epsom Oaks end result: Ezeliya’s breeding
Ezeliya, a home-bred by the Aga Khan, is bred within the purple; by the formidable Dubawi, out of a Teofilo mare named Eziyra. Remarkably, that is the primary Oaks winner Dubawi has sired from 15 earlier makes an attempt.
Dubawi is essentially the most profitable stallion ever to face in Britain. He has sired 266 Stakes winners, 175 Group winners, 57 Group One winners. He stands at his proprietor’s Dalham Corridor Stud at a payment of £350,000 for the 2024 season.
Ezeliya’s dam can be a home-bred belonging to theAga Khan, and he or she was additionally skilled by Dermot Weld. She clocked £541,876 throughout her profession on the Flat, along with her most notable victory coming within the Group Two Blandford Stakes on the Curragh in 2018. Ezeliya is from the household of Estimate, who gained the Ascot Gold Cup.
Learn the total report from the Derby assembly within the 6 June concern of Horse & Hound journal.
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Credit score: Invoice Selwyn
Credit score: Invoice Selwyn
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Credit score: Future
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