Minding steals show at Epsom; Skiffle fifth

Dubai - Godolphin's Skiffle put up a valiant fight but soon ran out of steam

Godolphin Racing's bid to land a fourth winner at the Group 1 Investec Oaks was denied as Aidan Patrick O'Brien's Minding fought back well after being bumped to notch a double at Epsom Downs on Friday.
Godolphin's Skiffle, who was supplemented just this week, put up a valiant fight but soon ran out of steam to finish fifth.
Minding was bumped by Turret Rocks heading into the Tattenham Corner, but showed a lot of heart under Ryan Moore to stage a brilliant recovery before going on to win the 1 mile-four furlong-and-10-yard contest by one-and-three-quarter lengths over the Hugo Palmer-trained Architecture, the ride of Frankie Dettori. Harlequeen, trained by former England international striker Mick Channon, finished a distant third.
Minding became the first filly since Godolphin's Kazzia in 2002 to clinch the English 1,000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks. It was Irish trainer O'Brien's sixth victory in the Group 1 race and second on the bounce after he had won with Shahtoush in 1998, with Imagine in 2001, with Alexandrova in 2006, with Was in 2012 and with Qualify last year.
Meanwhile, it was Moore's second win in the race after he had won it on Snow Fairy in 2010.
"She's an incredible filly. She has speed, class and is great in the head. Ryan did brilliantly to win after what she went through," said O'Brien, who is lining up for a hat-trick of the Oaks and the Derby after winning it in 2001 and 2012. He has five runners in the Investec Derby, the highlight on Saturday.
Skiffle, the daughter of Dubawi, was aiming to become the fourth winner from Godolphin after Balanchine in 1994, Moonshell in 1995 and Kazzia in 2002, but it didnt turn out that way even though she ran strongly along the straight and was second at one point. In what was her third start after a third on debut at Ascot and a maiden win at Goodwood last month, Skiffle, the ride of Dubai World Cup-winning jockey William Buick, couldn't keep it going and went on to settle for fifth.
Meanwwhile, Godolphin Racing's Cloth of Stars and Moonlight Magic will be seen in action in the Investec Derby. Cloth of Stars, trained by Andre Fabre, will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona, while Moonlight Magic os the charge of Jim Bolger and the ride of Kevin Manning.
james@khaleejtimes.com