Imagine takes English Oaks Irish filly Imagine won the English Oaks today to add to her Irish 1000 Guineas win a fortnight ago. The Aidan O`Brien-trained 3/1 favourite, ridden by Michael Kinane, beat home the Queen Elizabeth II-owned Flight of Fancy, who was bidding to give her royal owner her third success in the race but first since 1977, while long-time leader Relish The Thought was third at 10/1 to complete a remarkable clean sweep for sire Sadlers Wells. The win for Imagine landed Sadlers Wells the title of being the most successful sire of Group One winners. 'She`s an amazing filly to win like that when it was ground she didn`t like,' said O`Brien, who won his fourth classic of the season. However, O`Brien, who will not be celebrating with champagne as he is a rarity in Irish circles for not drinking alcohol, remained true to his reputation of being emotionless and imperturbable. 'I never get too excited to be honest, I only feel relief when my horses come past the post,' he said. Imagine, a half-sister to 1991 Derby winner Generous which was bred by one of the filly`s owners Diane Nagle, came with a storming run down the final straight after leaving a lot to do at the top of Tattenham Corner. Relish The Thought, ridden by Michael Hills for his trainer-father Barry, stuck at her task well after seeing off Mot Juste but Kinane concentrated his filly`s mind perfectly to finally overhaul her inside the final furlong. Flight of Fancy, who lost the favourite spot to Imagine, was interfered with by Relish The Thought with two furlongs to go. Flight of Fancy`s rider Kieren Fallon, who had been heavily criticised following her earlier loss in May, finally got her out but it was too late as Kinane had escaped to victory. While Fallon will not be able to gain quick revenge in Saturday`s Derby, for which he is suspended, Flight of Fancy`s Barbados-born trainer Michael Stoute will have a chance as he saddles English 2000 Guineas winner Golan, who is up against O`Brien`s hotly fancied raider Galileo. Asked about the decisive final few furlongs, Kinane said: 'I just found myself behind a few back markers... I thought she`s not coming as good as she could. 'But she picked up then and I always knew she was going to do it. 'I always thought she was the Oaks filly. I knew this filly was going to come in,' he added. Earlier the Dubai-based Godophin Operation, who had another terrible classic experience with Najah in the Oaks, had rather more joy with one of their older horses. The Frankie Dettori-ridden Mutafaweq won the Group One Coronation Stakes at 11/2 in a thrilling mano a mano duel with Henry Cecil`s Wellbeing. The five-year-old 1999 St Leger winner beat his opponent on the nose with 6/4 favourite Millenary, the 2000 St Leger champion, taking third under Pat Eddery, who rides joint-favourite Golan in the Derby.
