Tuesday edged out Emily Upjohn, the favourite, in a head-bobbing finish to the Oaks here on Friday, after a compelling Classic in which the first stride proved to be as significant as the last. Frankie Dettori, on Emily Upjohn, slipped leaving the stalls and found himself last after a furlong, and while he passed nine opponents over the next two and a half minutes, Emily Upjohn was still a short head behind Tuesday at the line.
It was not only the lost ground at the start which counted against Dettori as he was, after all, back within a length of Tuesday and Ryan Moore as they came down the hill. Moore, though, was able to take a more direct route to the finish from his position on the rail and pick the perfect moment to kick for home. Dettori was forced to come wider, around several opponents, allowing his rival to carve out (just) enough to hold on.
“She lost her footing completely, the front and the back, and the race was gone then,” Dettori said afterwards. “I’m way too far back behind a lot of bad horses.
“Ryan had the privilege to have the rail, he knew that the field would open up on the inside. I didn’t, I had to go round them and – bless her – she took me there in great style, but the damage was done. She was a very unlucky loser.
“It’s a shame because she didn’t get beat fair and square. I don’t mind when you get beat, but bad circumstances got us beat.” Despite the favourite’s misfortune, Tuesday – a late foal who was winning a Classic on her birthday – deserves huge credit for her courage in battling all the way to the line.
A full-sister to Minding, who took the Oaks six years ago, she was also Aidan O’Brien’s 41st British Classic winner, giving her trainer possession of a record he had shared with John Scott, who was active in the first half of the 19th century, since Snowfall’s runaway Oaks success last year.
“She was running in Classics before she was three and she was only three today,” O’Brien said. “It just goes to show what ability she has and what kind of filly she is. She is maturing all the time and she is a total baby and Ryan said she rode kind of babyish as well. That is a great thing to hear when they win a race like that.
Doncaster 1.21 Harry's Ridge 1.56 Ti Amo Sempre 2.31 Red Derek
3.06 The Gadget Man 3.41 Adjourn 4.16 Abu Malek 4.51 Thesis
5.21 Gatecrasher Girl
Worcester 1.10 Royal Ruby 1.45 Coral 2.20 Byzantine Empire 2.55 Uncle Arthur 3.30 Shentri 4.05 Dreamweaver 4.45 Brianna Rose
Hexham 1.30 Bird On The Wire 2.05 Cool Country 2.40 Inferno Sacree
3.15 Charle Brune 3.50 Stoney Mountain 4.20 Free Chakarte 4.55 Motown Lake 5.25 Cash Again
Musselburgh 1.36 Hostelry 2.11 Explicit 2.46 Aasser 3.21 Modular Magic 4.01 Sixcor 4.41 Martin's Brig 5.11 Bollin Neil
Epsom 2.00 Mr Big Stuff 2.35 Mrs Fitzherbert 3.10 Modern News 3.45 Mid Winster (nap) 4.30 Piz Badile (nb) 5.15 Boss Power 5.50 Commanche Falls
Chepstow 5.30 Fossos 6.05 Hope Probe 6.35 Union Court 7.05 Flatley
7.35 Chancery Lane 8.05 Hashtagmetoo 8.35 Ascot Day
Lingfield Park 5.40 Arpina 6.15 Four Feet 6.45 Ikkari 7.15 Pending Appeal 7.45 Eikonix 8.15 Tequilamockingbird 8.45 Smokey Malone
“She’s 100% homebred and Ryan gave her a brilliant ride and the guys at home have done a brilliant job with her. There’s so many people involved and I’m so grateful, they make this happen.”
Hollie Doyle, who was looking to become the first female jockey to win a British Classic, was well positioned on Nashwa, the second-favourite, but could only take third place, three and a quarter lengths behind Emily Upjohn.
“I appreciate that it’s the best placing ever by a female rider in a Classic, but it doesn’t make a lot of difference to me,” Doyle said. “If I could ever win one, though, it would be amazing.”
