Dettori wins Irish Oaks

Dettori rides Lailani to victory in the Irish Oaks

Jockey Frankie Dettori has won his first Irish Oaks, steering Lailani to a narrow victory over Mot Juste, at the Curragh on Sunday.

Dettori timed his run to perfection on the outside and drove Lailani, who started at 5-1, into a narrow lead over Richard Hughes on Mot Juste, an 8-1 shot, inside the final furlong.

And his charge just managed to hold on at the finish, on a successful day for the trainer of both leading horses, Ed Dunlop.

Life can't get much better than this

  Ed Dunlop

"The wonderful thing, on a great day for me, is that I have won the race for Sheikh Maktoum, who wanted to run Lailani in this race, owns my yard and has given me some top-class horses to train," said Dunlop.

"Life can't get much better than this. I thought Lailani had it all to do from the number one draw, but Frankie gave her a wonderful ride."

But Dettori was quick to praise horse and trainer: "This filly has a very big heart and dug deep in the last furlong. Ed has done a great job to keep her sweet and improving."

Chamela Bay, one of six runners in the race for champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, went off at a hectic gallop and was still in front turning for home.

But she faded and made way for stable companion, Karsavina, to finish third.