Moonstone Shines at the Darley Irish Oaks

It seems that there is just no stopping Aidan O’Brian this year, as he steams ahead after securing his thirteenth Group 1 win for 2008, with winning seven classics in a row and the four noteworthy classics in Ireland. Every time O’Brian steps out at a horse racing event, everything appears to go his way, and he is looking good so far to win the British Trainers Championship again after winning it in 2007. And the horse that took the thirteenth victory for him was Moonstone, during the Darley Irish Oaks.

The Darley Irish Oaks is one of the most anticipated Group 1 racing events of the flat horse racing season and is a four furlong race. Its inaugural race was held in 1895, and since then the tradition of filling a field with spectacular three year old fillies has continued throughout the years. Always run at Curragh, last year’s Irish Oaks was also won by Aidan O’Brian and a filly named Peeping Fawn. This year, it took place on Sunday the 13th of July 2008, and again O’Brian walked away with a victory under his belt and a smile on his face.

When the field of fillies for the Irish Oaks started heading for home, the battle for first place really started. Moonstone, under the expert guidance of Johnny Murtagh, and Ice Queen, ridden by Colm O’ Donoghue, where head to head all the way to the finish line, with Moonstone giving just that little more effort to cross the line victorious. Not bad for a day’s work, seeing as Ice Queen, the 66-1 long shot, is Moonstone’s stable mate. Always humble in his comments and achievements, O’Brian expressed his joy with the performances of both fillies and confirmed that Moonstone will be competing in the Yorkshire Oaks next. It was also a very big day for Moonstone, who enjoyed her first career win on Sunday.

O’Brian does have a few more aces up his sleeve for coming racing events, such as Henrythenavigator in the Sussex Stakes and Duke Of Marmalade who will participate in the King George. But till then, Moonstone is the girl of the moment, and both her and her jockey can be very proud of their success at the Irish Oaks.