Judging Aidan O'Brien's Dominance in the Irish Oaks: A Historical Overview Top trainer Aidan O'Brien has a record seven Irish Oaks wins on his CV, starting with Alexandrova back in 2006 and, most recently, with Savethelastdance in 2023. Next weekend sees the final traditional three-year-old Classic of the season in Ireland, the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. We're taking a look at the Ballydoyle's handler's record in the fillies' Classic. Paddy Power Betting Offer If you already have a Paddy Power account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Alexandrova kick-starts hat-trick of O'Brien wins O'Brien first won this race with Alexandrova in 2006 under the steer of Kieren Fallon. She had justified favouritism at Epsom earlier in the month in the Oaks and was sent off the 8/15 favourite to double up. Fallon's partner travelled nicely at the rear of a six-runner field and picked up smoothly to go clear of the likes of Scottish Stage for Sir Michael Stoute in second. The daughter of Sadler's Wells would go on to York for an Oaks treble in the Yorkshire Oaks in August, before finishing third in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on what proved her final outing. Johnny Murtagh was the Ballydoyle main rider by 2007 and he steered Peeping Fawn home in front after she'd been denied in second behind Light Shift at Epsom, while he was also on board as Moonstone matched that feat in 2008, following her Epsom second behind Look Here with victory at the Curragh as the 2/1 favorite to complete an O'Brien hat-trick of Irish Oaks wins. Surprisingly, in the 17 years since, the top trainer hasn't even managed back-to-back wins. Bracelet sparkles with O'Donoghue O'Brien's next Irish Oaks winner came in 2014 when Bracelet scored in the hands of Colm O'Donoghue. The daughter of Montjeu had landed a Guineas trial at Leopardstown on her seasonal bow at three before running well down the field at Newmarket in the fillies' Classic. She skipped the Oaks at Epsom and landed the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot on her maiden attempt at the mile-and-a-half distance before staying on dourly to overhaul stablemate Tapestry in the Irish Oaks as Ballydoyle first string Marvellous trailed in eighth under Ryan Moore. Heaven sent for Seamie Seventh Heaven was another Ballydoyle runner who sprung a shock in this race. She had won the Lingfield Oaks Trial in 2016 but was more than 30 lengths behind when Minding scored at Epsom. Moore preferred Even Song at the Curragh and so Seamie Heffernan had the ride on Seventh Heaven at odds of 14/1 for this Classic. They met some trouble in the run but not enough to prevent a strong finishing effort and they held off Frankie Dettori on Architecture for William Haggas. Snowfall heralds latest Ballydoyle successes Another four-year gap followed before Snowfall landed the Irish Oaks in 2021, giving Ryan Moore his second of three wins so far and his first for O'Brien. The Deep Impact filly had enjoyed a busy juvenile season but the big Group 1 prizes had eluded her. She was a surprise winner of York's Musidora Stakes on her comeback and then followed up with a 16-length romp at Epsom under Frankie Dettori in the Oaks. She did things easily again at the Curragh, by more than eight-lengths, and added the Yorkshire Oaks in August. The 2023 Irish Oaks went to Savethelastdance and Moore, bringing O'Brien's tally to seven wins. A daughter of the mighty Galileo, she won the Cheshire Oaks and was second at Epsom before defeating a subsequent Arc winner in Bluestocking to win at the Curragh.
