Derrinstown

19th July 2010

Snow Fairy had a troubled passage in the Gr.1 Oaks at Epsom just over six weeks ago but her class pulled her through for a neck victory over Meeznah (Dynaformer). In yesterday’s Gr.1 Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh, she showed what she could really do when things went right, running out an impressive eight-length winner and becoming the 13th filly to complete the Oaks double.

Held up in midfield under Ryan Moore as Ice Empress (Danehill Dancer) set a fast pace, she gradually made up ground from the home turn, striking the lead a furlong and a half from home and, kept up to her work by Moore, scored in terrific style. Another supplementary entry, Godolphin’s recent maiden winner Miss Jean Brodie (Maria’s Mon) chased her home, followed by Ballydoyle’s Lady Lupus (High Chaparral) in third and Meeznah fourth.

She was the third winner of the race for her trainer Ed Dunlop, who said, “That was a good performance. Ryan said she got bumped at one stage and she’d be better on better ground. It was the owner who decided to take the plunge and said ‘go’.

“The Yorkshire Oaks is a possibility now. I persuaded the owner to supplement her twice and I don’t know if I’ll ask to do it again for the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’d have to start to think of going down a similar road to Ouija Board. I’m reliably informed that once everything is okay, she’ll stay in training as a four-year-old.”
Snow Fairy has made remarkable improvement this season since getting the middle-distance trips she evidently needs despite being by a Champion Miler out of a seven-furlong winner by Charnwood Forest, a dual Gr.2 winner who never ran beyond a mile himself.

She is by Derrinstown Stud’s Champion European Miler Intikhab, a grandson of Roberto and the runaway winner of the Gr.2 (now Gr.1) Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has also been responsible for dual Gr.1 winner Red Evie, Gr.1-winning juvenile Paita, the Classic runner-up Toupie and this season’s triple Listed scorer Kidnapping.

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