Derrinstown

5th June 2010

Snow Fairy justified the confidence of her connections, who had earlier supplement their charge at a cost of £20,000, to win the Gr.1 Oaks yesterday. Settled at the rear of the field for much of the race, the filly made significant progress in the closing stages, snatching victory close home to give her Champion Jockey Ryan Moore his first Classic winner. Successful in the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood last month, this was her first victory at Group level.

Owned and bred by Cristina Patino’s Windflower Overseas Holdings and trained by Ed Dunlop, she is by Derrinstown Stud’s Intikhab out of a half-sister to the Gr.3 winner and sire Big Bad Bob (Bob Back), from the family of the dual Gr.3 winner Elusive Pimpernel (Elusive Quality). Snow Fairy could run next in the Gr.1 Irish Oaks, a similar path to the one trodden by Ouija Board, who was also trained by Dunlop.

Her trainer was understandably ebullient after the race, commenting, “We had doubts about her staying but we knew she was very tough. It’s an amazing day. I’m very happy. I’d like to say thank you to my staff for doing an amazing job.”

Ryan Moore added his view from the saddle, saying “It was a very rough race. I decided to stay back to give her a chance. She had a good turn of foot and quickened up. The pace slackened off in the middle part and probably helped us stay the trip. I was always confident from three out and she quickened up real smartly. It’s great to win the Oaks.”

Snow Fairy’s outstanding victory came hot on the heels of two other Stakes winners for Intikhab in Les Fazzani and Kidnapping.

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