It speaks volumes about the strength of Joseph O’Brien’s team that he could declare Thundering On a non-runner (off feed) in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks, for which the Epsom Oaks heroine was favourite, only to win the Curragh classic with what had originally appeared to be his second string.

The wealth of riches at Owning Hill is also to the benefit of Dylan Browne McMonagle, who then plundered the ride on Johanna Walsh, for whom Colin Keane was originally booked. Johanna Walsh was no consolation prize either, as she had only been beaten a head last time out in the Ribblesdale Stakes by William Haggas’ Earth Shot, who was eventually sent off 9/4 favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 feature.

A loose horse was an unwelcome distraction for Johanna Walsh at Ascot, but thankfully for connections, Saturday went much smoother for the Wells Watson-owned bay, where she was settled in midfield on the outer.

Wayne Lordan set the pace aboard Sugar Island – one of five runners in the 10-horse field for Aidan O’Brien – and was eventually overtaken by stablemates on the turn-in, but it was Dylan Browne McMonagle who caught the eye, oozing with what has become a trademark confidence.

Johanna Walsh was last off the bridle as she led passing the two-furlong pole and was soon in control, as stablemate Rebel Moon gave chase in what looked a likely 1-2 for Joseph O’Brien.

The daughter of Sea The Stars needed only hands and heels to draw four lengths clear on the line, as the David Menuisier-trained Inis Mor ran on well to claim runner-up honours, with three-parts of a length further back to Jim Bolger’s Sparan Nua.

Rebel Moon, the least experienced in the field, kept on to finish fourth. Amelia Earhart finished best of the Ballydoyle quintet in fifth, three lengths ahead of the British favourite Earth Shot in sixth.

Really special

“Huge performance from the filly,” O’Brien said, after posing for photos with his five-month-old daughter Annie and partner Tara Armstrong.

“I thought Dylan gave her a fantastic ride because he controlled the whole race. He felt he could do that from a mid-pack position and he really did. She came on the bridle between the three and the two [furlong poles]. We thought she’d like the fast ground and we felt she was in good shape coming here. “

On what the win meant to him, the trainer commented: “It’s really special to win a Group 1 and to win a classic here in Ireland, this is what we’re in the game for and this is why we do what we do. It’s a really special day.

“It was a huge run from our other filly as well, Rebel Moon, so two exciting fillies for the future.”

Questions, of course, then focussed on future plans for Johanna Walsh, to which O’Brien replied: “I think we’ll enjoy today. She’s had a busy first part of the season and we’ll probably give her a little freshen up now and focus on an autumn campaign.”

First world problems

On the prospect of his Epsom and Irish Oaks winners clashing in the future, he commented: “If they have to take each other on, they have to take each other on – that’s horse racing, that’s first world problems.

“It’s very special to have two fillies of their calibre. To win two Oaks is extraordinary really, especially for both of them to win in the manner of two good Oaks winners.”

Johanna Walsh was sourced by US-based agent Andrew Cary on behalf of Wells Watson at the Goffs Orby Sale, where she was sold by Norelands Stud for €480,000. The daughter of Sea The Stars was bred by the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holdings out of a half-sister to Mekhtaal (Sea The Stars).

Johanna Walsh raced just once at two and got off the mark on her second start this year at Leopardstown. She took a massive step forward at Ascot, much like Thundering On did at Epsom, and O’Brien confirms he always expected both to improve with time.

“They’re two fillies who were bred to mature,” he said. “We were very happy with what they both did at two and we thought they were both fillies who were going to make their way into Oaks trials and from there, you see how high you can fly.

“This filly got beat in Gowran, but it turned out it was Rebel Moon who beat her that day over nine [furlongs]. We were a bit disappointed that day, but it just goes to show it was a strong race and she’s done nothing wrong since.”

Incidentally, Johanna Walsh was also beaten on debut by another stablemate in Green Carrera, who progressed to win the Sandringham Stakes last month – as if we ever needed reminding of the strength of Joseph O’Brien’s stable.