Aidan O’Brien won yet another Yorkshire Oaks as his Galileo filly Warm Heart, ridden by James Doyle, narrowly held the Frankie Dettori ridden Free Wind at the finish.
It was O’Brien’s 7th win in the Group 1 contest and Doyle’s second, following his win on Sea Of Class in 2018.
In the race it was the better fancied of the O’Brien runners, Irish Oaks winner Savethelastdance, who made the running and set a testing enough task for those behind. Warm Heart raced in midfield while Dettori had Free Wind on the rail towards the rear.
In the straight Moore sent Savethelastdance for home but she immediately looked vulnerable while Doyle had Warm Heart travelling sweetly.
In the last furlong Doyle pushed Warm Heart into a lead but Dettori had wound up Free Wind, on the outside now for racing room, and she looked a real danger. The fillies battled it out in the last 100 yards but Warm Heart held on narrowly at the line to win by a short head.
Trainer O’Brien thought the ground had played its part in Warm Heart’s resurgence to form after a disappointing effort on easy ground at the Curragh last time. “It just didn’t happen in the Irish Oaks. The ground was a little bit on the slow side. She was lovely today. She’s a very classy filly and you saw what she did in the Ribblesdale.”
It was a red-letter day for Doyle who was riding his first winner for O’Brien, having often been in the opposing corner riding for the Godolphin operation.
Betfair reduced the odds on Warm Heart for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf from 16/1 to 6/1 at Betfair after her success.
