With Soul Sister continuing the Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden Oaks dominance in 2023, could any trainer snap the decade-long sequence of the fillies’ Classic falling to one of those two leading trainers? With no entry in 2024, John and Thady Gosden wouldn’t be extending that record. However, O’Brien sent 1,000 Guineas fifth, Ylang Ylang, and the Galileo filly Rubies Are Red in pursuit of the prize.
Also making the trip over from Ireland was the Dermot Weld-trained Ezeliya. Having landed his only Oaks success with Blue Wind in 1981, could the veteran handler repeat the trick 43 years later? Successful twice in the Derby, Charlie Appleby sought to complete the Epsom Classic set with Dance Sequence, who had reportedly improved since her 1000 Guineas disappointment. Ralph Beckett meanwhile boasted as many entries as O’Brien, Weld, and Appleby combined, with his Lingfield Oaks Trial winner You Got To Me coming in for solid support on the day.
Result
- 1st – Ezeliya 13/2, Jockey: Chris Hayes, Trainer: Dermot Weld
- 2nd – Dance Sequence 7/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd – War Chimes 50/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: David Menuisier
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £311,905
- 2nd – £118,250
- 3rd – £59,180
- 4th – £29,480
- 5th – £14,795
- 6th – £7,425
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £7.50
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.10, 2nd – £2.40, 3rd – £11.70
- Exacta – £53.50
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £48.35
- Trifecta – £1618.90
- Tricast – £2102.14
Recap
Irish challenger Caught U Looking and the Musidora winner Secret Satire broke well when the stalls opened, but it soon became clear that Karl Burke’s Making Dreams would be setting the fractions. The mount of Clifford Lee moved into a length lead around the first bend, tracked through by the outsider of the Beckett quartet, Seaward, and Treasure, who sported the colours of The King. Dance Sequence and Ezeliya were nicely positioned in midfield, but the O’Brien duo of Ylang Ylang and Rubies Are Red were notably slowly away and brought up the rear.
Approaching halfway, Making Dreams continued to pour on the pace, stretching her advantage to around five lengths as they reached the highest point on the course. Little change in behind, with the most notable moves coming from You Got To Me and War Chimes, who moved out of traffic to obtain a clear passage on the outside.
Making Dreams continued to lead around Tattenham Corner, but that advantage was diminishing with every stride. Stablemates Treasure and You Got To Me moved well, while Caught U Looking was in position to strike towards the inside. Alarm bells began ringing for favourite backers, with Ryan Moore rowing along aboard Ylang Ylang, sitting stone last as the race began in earnest.
As the field turned into the straight, the eye was immediately drawn to the Aga Khan silks sported by Chris Hayes aboard Ezeliya. Despite needing to switch around runners, the filly appeared to be travelling well within herself as all around her began to come under pressure.
William Buick stole a march on Ezeliya when kicking Dance Sequence past the Dermot Weld filly from behind to take the lead towards the inside, but Ezeliya responded to set up an enthralling two-way tussle to the line. As Dance Sequence began to wander under pressure, Ezaliya stayed straight and true to hit the front at the furlong pole and come home two lengths clear. Dance Sequence was back to form in second, with War Chimes staying on dourly for third.
It was a second Oaks win for Dermot Weld (over four decades after his first) and a first British Classic for Hayes. The race also marked a landmark moment for Dubawi, who, in siring the first and second, picked up his first win in an Epsom Classic at the 16th attempt.
Runners
- 1. Caught U Looking – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Noel Meade, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 2. Dance Sequence – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Charlie Appleby, Jockey: William Buick
- 3. Ezeliya – SP: 13/2, Trainer: Dermot Weld, Jockey: Chris Hayes
- 4. Forest Fairy – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 5. Making Dreams – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
- 6. Rubies Are Red – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 7. Seaward – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 8. Secret Satire – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 9. Treasure – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: James Doyle
- 10. War Chimes – SP: 50/1, Trainer: David Menuisier, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 11. Ylang Ylang – SP: 11/8F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 12. You Got To Me – SP: 15/2, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Hector Crouch
Non Runners
All Ran