Jockey Frankie Dettori won his fourth Oaks and his first in 15 years when driving home Enable by four lengths from the hot favourite Rhodedendron today at Epsom.
The day was full of drama, starting with the late arrival of Aidan O’Brien’s runners after a fuelling problem delayed the plane bringing his runners over to England from Ireland. The delay didn’t stop his horse Highland Reel from winning the Group One Coronation Cup earlier in the afternoon so hopes were very high for Rhodedendron.
More drama occurred immediately prior to the Oaks as a thunderstorm engulfed the track, a bolt of lightning over the stalls as the runners were being loaded drawing gasps from the large crowd who had sought cover under the crowded grandstand.
The race itself was then run in a torrential downpour but nothing could stop Frankie and Enable as they went clear of Rhodedendron in the last furlong, trainer John Gosden notching his second win in the race to foil the Irish gamble on the favourite.
Victory was particularly sweet for Gosden who trained Enable’s sire Nathaniel, a son of Galileo.
