Frankie Dettori snatched a sensational last-gasp victory on Blue Bunting in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
The Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner came with a late surge to grab Banimpire on the line and take the fillies’ Classic for Godolphin and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Only fourth in the English Oaks at Epsom, Blue Bunting (5-2) justified strong support to turn that form around.
Wonder Of Wonders, the 5-4 favourite, and Laughing Lashes were just behind Banimpire (8-1) in third and fourth.
A trio of pacemakers – Amazing Beauty, Hurricane Havoc and Rumh – took the field along with a healthy gap back to Dancing Rain, who headed the chasing pack.
Rumh, carrying the Godolphin second colours, took it up turning for home but the major fancies closed in as the race hotted up.
Several were in with a chance in the final two furlongs and it looked like Banimpire might just follow up her Ribblesdale Stakes success for trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning.
However, the Royal Ascot winner had no answer to Blue Bunting’s late thrust that saw her grab victory by a short head as Dettori made amends for losing third place at Epsom, where he was easy on his filly in the dying strides and picked up a lengthy suspension.
Dancing Rain never looked like adding to her Epsom Oaks success, eventually finishing fifth.
“If I had stayed where I was I would have only finished fifth,” Dettori said.
“I was going nowhere, so I switched her out for some daylight and I knew she would finish hard.
“I thought I would run out of time. But she picked up for me, just like she did in the Guineas.”
Al Zarooni said the Yorkshire Oaks was a possible option for the filly.
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