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You are in: Special Events: 2001: Epsom Derby |
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Friday, 8 June, 2001, 15:10 GMT 16:10 UK
Imagine on song in Oaks
Imagine storms to Oaks glory
The Derby (9 June) will be covered live by BBC TV, Five Live and Sport Online.
The Irish filly Imagine made a late run to win the Vodafone Oaks in style. Ridden by Michael Kinane, the 3/1 favourite stole the lead in the final furlong and held off a stiff challenge from the Queen's horse Flight of Fancy. Imagine, who has also won the Irish 1,000 Guineas, had to make up a lot of ground down the home straight. But a brilliant ride by Kinane set up a fantastic win for Aiden O'Brien's stable - his first win in Britain this season because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.
It looked as the Queen was about to celebrate her first Oaks win since 1977.
But Flight of Fancy, ridden by Kieren Fallon, struggled for room and could not get the run she wanted and had to settle for second place. Relish the Thought finished third and Richard Hughes' mount Mot Juste was fourth. Pre-race gamble Gay Heroine was disappointing and tailed off before the straight. The Queen arrived just over an hour before the race to watch her horse. She was driven into the track at 1445 BST, after being visited by the re-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair at Buckingham Palace at 1105. But there were great celebrations among the Irish followers as O'Brien secured his second Oaks sucess with Imagine. O'Brien won the race in 1998 with Shahtoush. Blossom It was also a second victory for jockey Michael Kinane, who was aboard the winner three years ago. O'Brien told BBC Sport: "She's an amazing filly to win like that when it was ground she didn't like." And Kinane was also full of praise for the filly. He said: "As soon as we came down the straight I always knew we were going to win. "We were just biding our time. "Imagine is a good filly. She didn't blossom early in the season but she came good at the right time."
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