2008 Darley Irish Oaks Winners

Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien’s hot streak continued as he picked up his seventh consecutive Irish Classic win on Sunday, 13 July at the Curragh Racecourse. The Irish trainer had entered numerous horses into the 2009 Darley Irish Oaks, but it was Moonstone that really shined.

Showing outstanding momentum and stability, Moonstone picked up the pace during the last stretch to close the lead on Michael Tabor’s Ice Queen ridden by Colm O’Donoghue. The filly, priced at 2 – 1, was expertly commanded by well-known Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh to push ahead of stablemate Ice Queen (66/1 ) during the final exhilarating furlong to claim her maiden victory with an incredibly close finish.

Johnny Murtagh praised the horse’s effort, “We went a nice, even pace all the way and I thought I would win nicely a furlong out. But the second filly didn’t stop and it was all part of a real team effort out there.”

Darley Irish Oaks and Aidan O’Brien

The win at the Curragh Racecourse also marked the third straight Darley Irish Oaks victory for Aidan O’Brien, after his previous successes with Peeping Fawn (2007) and Alexandrova (2006).

Aidan O’Brien was his usual modest self when speaking to the BBC after picking up his 13th Group I win victory for the 2008 season, “It was a masterful ride from Johnny and great to watch two fillies and two jockeys giving it their all.”

This was the second Darley Irish Oaks win for the partnership between the 38-year-old jockey and the famed Irish trainer. “It is great to do this sort of thing,” Aidan O’Brien stated, “but it’s teamwork that does it and it’s just a privilege for me to be involved with the people who make it happen.”

Two lengths behind, French-trained Gagnoa settled for a third place finish.