Intro:

20-1 shot Was, ridden by Seamie Heffernan and trained by Aiden O'Brien, won The Oaks Classic flat race at Epsom Downs in England on Friday (1st June).

The three-year-old won by a neck ahead of 16-1 bet Shirocco Star, ridden by Darryll Holland, and pre-race favourite The Fugue, ridden by Colm O'Donoghue - it was a fourth Oaks victory and third classic win of the season for O'Brien.

Script:

The third classic of the British horse racing summer, The Oaks, took place at Epsom Downs on Friday, with a large crowd on hand to start the 'Jubilee' weekend early.

Aiden O'Brien had five starters in the race, including a well-backed entry in Maybe, ridden by his 19-year-old son Joseph, but it was Nayarra, trained by former England international footballer Mick Channon and ridden by Martin Dwyer, which was the first to show.

Nayarra led the field on a slow gallop, which didn't seem to suit the shorter-priced horses and as they thundered around the famous Tattenham Corner into the final run for home, Nayarra was swallowed up first by (12) Twirl and then 20-1 shot (14) Was, which squeezed through the narrowest of gaps on the rails.

The Fugue, with Colm O'Donoghue on board, made a charge as they entered the final furlong and so did Shirocco Star, ridden by Darryll Holland.

Twirl faded badly and it seemed that Was might go the same way, but Seamie Heffernan kept the three year-old going and at the post won by a neck.
Was took the victory, followed by Shirocco Star at 16-1 and The Fugue at 11-4.

It was a fourth Oaks victory for O'Brien in his career and he kept up his 100 per cent record in the British classics this year, following victories for Camelot and Homecoming Queen in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas respectively.

O'Brien's last Oaks success came back in 2006 with Alexandrova.