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Queen out of luck in Lancashire Oaks

Pat FahyPat Fahy
© Photo Healy Racing

Ballybacka Queen couldn't get involved at the business end of the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

Pat Fahy's filly won the Cork Derby last month and raced prominently here until inside the final two furlongs.

She was probably beaten anyway when encountering a spot of trouble and faded into seventh as Graham Lee produced Lady Tiana with a perfectly-timed challenge to claim top honours.

Lucy Wadham's filly was a 9-2 shot for the Group Two feature on Merseyside, having finished third behind the reopposing Miss Marjurie in the Pinnacle Stakes over the course and distance in late May.

The latter looked like obliging for favourite-backers when battling her way into an outright lead, but as the post loomed, Lady Tiana swept by for an ultimately authoritative success.

Lustrous finished strongly to grab the runner-up spot, beaten three-quarters of a length, with Miss Marjurie a neck away in third.

Lee, who won last year's Lancashire Oaks aboard Pomology, said: "When she got beat the last day, that's how she needs to be ridden. I know she got beat, but that's how she has to be ridden and if it happens it happens.

"She's a sweet little filly who tries her heart out. She's game as a pebble and you can't ask for any more than that."

Wadham said: "She has to be ridden like that and Graham was so brave.

"I thought what happened last time here was going to happen again, but they got the gaps and she flew.

"She has a terrific turn of foot but you have to wait until the last minute and he timed it to perfection.

"She is a really game filly. We'll probably give her a little holiday now and look at coming back for the Group One for fillies and mares at Ascot (on Champions Day) in October, with maybe one run before.

"She doesn't act on fast ground. We were so lucky it rained on Thursday or she wouldn't have run."