Racing: Snow Fairy leaves Irish Oaks opponents in the cold

Snow Fairy put in an imperious performance in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh yesterday, streaking clear of her rivals in impressive fashion under a hands-and-heels ride from Ryan Moore.

Snow Fairy (7-2) put eight lengths between herself and the Godolphin-owned 33-1 shot, Miss Jean Brodie, who won the battle for second at only her third career start under William Buick. Joseph O'Brien steered Lady Lupus, who returned at 66-1, home in third with Investec Oaks runner-up Meeznah fourth.

Speaking after the race, winning trainer Ed Dunlop told the Racing Post: "We came here very confident of a good run as she'd definitely improved since Epsom, but we then became worried when the rain came. She won well and is a filly with a huge heart.

"She might go to the Yorkshire Oaks. I was successful in persuading her owner to supplement her for this and the Epsom Oaks, so I might try again for the Breeders' Cup."

Ryan Moore added: "She didn't give me as good a feel for most of the race compared to Epsom. Although she won easily, she didn't appear to like the ground very much."

Ribblesdale winner Hibaayeb, who was sent off the 100-30 favourite for Frankie Dettori and Saeed Bin Suroor, was one of the first beaten, never looking dangerous and eased down with two furlongs to go.

Ice Empress, one of five runners for Aidan O'Brien, led the field along at a fierce early gallop, with usual front-runner Akdarena having to settle in behind. Lady Lupus and Meeznah, the eventual third and fourth, occupied those same positions in the early part of the race.

Snow Fairy jumped far more prominently than at Epsom but was reined back by Moore to sit in midfield alongside Dettori, fully 15 lengths off Ice Empress. Johnny Murtagh held O'Brien first-string and Epsom Oaks third, Remember When, out the back.

The field were content to sit off the strong early pace but the race changed on the home turn with the strong pace taking its toll and the majority of the field never becoming competitive.

Moore, however, was travelling with consummate ease and, as those around him were hard at work, he surged clear on Snow Fairy. The same turn of foot that was so visually impressive at Epsom was demonstrated again on the Curragh as Snow Fairy opened up a gap on her pursuers in a matter of strides, continuing to pull away all the way to the line.

Miss Jean Brodie stayed on to grab second on the line from Lady Lupus, who duelled with Meeznah for the whole of the home straight.

In other European news, Hungarian sprint star Overdose has stretched his unbeaten record to 13 with an emotional comeback victory in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava on Sunday.

Ridden by Gary Hind, Overdose won the listed 1000m race by a half length from Boschka with the Czech-trained Another True Story third.

Overdose had been off the scene for 15 months after a foot injury and missed a scheduled return in the July Cup at Newmarket.

The Racing Post reports the horse is likely to have his next start in the group two Goldene Peitsche at Baden-Baden on August 29, a race he won two years ago, in preference to the group one Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

"We need to get more work into him," owner Zoltan Mikoczy said.

"I'm not sure if running at York next would be the most sensible step."

Buzzword made it two German group one wins in as many days for Godolphin in the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg yesterday.

It was a first classic triumph for Godolphin's rookie trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and a notable one for jockey Royston Ffrench.

Sheikh Mohammed's operation had struck with Campanologist, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, in the Grosser Preis Von Lotto Hamburg on Sunday and Buzzword got in on the act with a determined effort.

Zazou looked like taking the prize but he could not hold off Buzzword, who proved the stronger in the closing stages. Sir Lando was third and Russian Tango fourth.