Camelot's Even So Wins the Irish Oaks

It was Ger Lyons again celebrating on a Classic Saturday at The Curragh as Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) carried Susan Magnier's pink silks to glory in the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. Placed into the Coolmore armada after her battling success in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial over a mile and a quarter last time July 4, the 10-1 was settled behind the leading quartet early by Colin Keane with the pace generous. Travelling best on the turn into the straight, the bay who is part-owned by Linda Shanahan stayed on past Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) to gain the advantage a furlong from home and beat that 2-1 favourite by two lengths. Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) did best of the Ballydoyle four, half a length away in third. “If we'd got third it would have been great and anything else was a bonus, so it means everything for them to put that faith in us and send us these fillies,” jockey Colin Keane said. “It was pretty smooth, I followed Shane Foley [on Cayenne Pepper] the whole way and it didn't take much riding from me. I couldn't believe how well I was travelling. Between the two and the one when I really went for her she really put her head down and really galloped the whole way to the line. She has just thrived for her racing and looked a million dollars walking around like she owned the place beforehand. I can only imagine she'll keep on improving.”

Introduced over an extended seven furlongs at Tipperary in August, Even So was an encouraging third on that occasion, finishing off her race in the manner of a middle-distance prospect. Benefitting from more positive tactics when scoring by 3 3/4 lengths over a mile at Gowran Park the following month, she was brought back pre-lockdown for the G3 Park Express S. also at that trip at Naas Mar. 23 and was third behind stablemate Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass). By the time she had finished fifth in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas here June 13, it was time to move up to a more suitable trip and she relished the extra test of stamina to keep Laburnum (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at bay in a battle royal in the Naas Oaks Trial.

While some fillies may have backtracked after such a gruelling encounter, Even So is hewn from tough material and this examination was exactly what was going to bring out her best. Always travelling supremely easily despite the attempt by the G3 Munster Oaks winner Snow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to drag her rivals into the red from the front, she was able to enter into the most pressurised section of the contest still racing within herself and when it came down to a slog Cayenne Pepper was already weakened by having subdued Ballydoyle's front-runner.

“She is just a queen–she is there taking it all in and was like that beforehand and that's the difference between a good one and a bad one,” Lyons said. “I love the Camelot fillies and I liked her from the very get-go. Did I think she was an Oaks filly then? No, but she earned the right to come here at Naas and watching her today I don't think it was ever in doubt. I was adamant that my fillies be ridden where they were happy and to hit the line strong. She's a lovely filly and she has just thrived week on week. I was disappointed with her in Naas when she got beaten by Lemista, but Lemista has turned out special. They were spoiling Aidan, this thing is easy when you get this type of horse.”

“I didn't know what an Oaks filly was, but I said if we had one this was her,” he added. “I genuinely didn't think she was good enough to win an Oaks. Now I have to pay her her dues and train her accordingly. It was different to Siskin. I couldn't breathe watching Siskin, but with this one I enjoyed it all the way up the straight. There is no pressure from the owners and they are straightforward to work for. They've been around a long time and know more than I do. They've picked us for a reason and let us do our job which makes life so much easier. Paul Shanahan is a lovely guy and a good judge and I had said to him 'if you want to send me something send me something' and he did. Whatever happens, happens–what's meant for you won't pass you.”

Even So is out of Breeze Hill (Ire) (Danehill), a maiden of average ability trained by David Wachman for the late Robert Sangster. She is kin to four stakes winners, headed by the G1 Epsom Derby hero Dr. Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) and the G3 Greenlands S. winner Archway (Ire) (Thatching {Ire}), as well as to Rain Flower (Ire) by Ahonoora's son Indian Ridge (Ire). She produced the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) from a mating with Danehill's son Danehill Dancer (Ire) as well as the Listed St Hugh's S. scorer Sumora (Ire) to a mating with Danehill. Sumora was responsible for the G1 Moyglare Stud S.-winning juvenile champion Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who in turn is the dam of the G1 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Breeze Hill also has a yearling filly by Footstepsinthesand (GB).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €250,000, Curragh, 7-18, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:39.54, g/y.
1–EVEN SO (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Camelot%20(GB)#tot">Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Breeze Hill (Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Rose of Jericho, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Rose Red, by Northern Dancer
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Susan Magnier & Linda Shanahan; B-Lynch Bages (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €145,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-0-2, $223,021. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cayenne Pepper (Ire), 128, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality. (195,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-Mrs S Kelly; B-GHS Bloodstock & JC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €50,000.
3–Passion (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa. (800,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €25,000.
Margins: 2, HF, 1HF. Odds: 10.00, 2.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Laburnum (Ire), Snow (Ire), Yaxeni (Fr), New York Girl (Ire), Ennistymon (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.