Mahmood Al Zarooni's Blue Bunting gave Godolphin a first success in the Group One Darley Irish Oaks at The Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday winning a thrilling race by a short-head.

The three-year-old Dynaformer filly found plenty of reserves to get up in the dying strides for a dramatic win, having looked beaten with over a furlong to run.

She is now a dual Classic winner, having enjoyed an impressive victory in the Group One QIPCO 1,000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, UK, on May 1.

Blue Bunting was held up in third last in the Darley Irish Oaks, also over a mile and a half, as Amazing Beauty led from Hurricane Havoc, with Godolphin’s second runner, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained-Rumh, in third.


Frankie Dettori then asked Blue Bunting to move up turning into the straight and Godolphin’s main hope went fourth at the quarter-mile pole but then seemed to hit a flat spot.

She dropped back to fifth before being switched out widest of all with just over a furlong remaining and unleashed a strong run which enabled her to snatch the advantage virtually on the line from Banimpire, with Wonder Of Wonders in third. The winning time was 2m 42.97s on ground described as yielding.

Al Zarooni commented: "Frankie gave Blue Bunting a brilliant ride, deciding to switch out and then the filly showed a good turn of foot.

"The nice pace helped her.

"It is great to win a Classic in Ireland - Blue Bunting is a very good filly.

"His Highness (Sheikh Mohammed) really deserved this success as he is so supportive to us.

"It has been a very good season for the whole team and now we may go for the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group One, 12 furlongs, York, August 18) with Blue Bunting."

Dettori said: “That was great. Epsom was a bit of a mess up but she came here with every chance.

“I got myself a bit stuck two out. She wasn’t going forward for me, so as a last resort I decided to switch her to the outside and that won me the race because once she has found a bit of daylight, she went forward.

“When I was stuck behind other horses I was really struggling.

“The pace was solid. All the four good ones we were all together turning for home and the best filly won - mine. she was the only one who came home.

“I didn’t know I had won until I passed the line. I had to ask Kevin (Manning on Banimpire). I don’t ride here very often and he told me I had won.

“I knew I came into the race with a great chance."