THERE were many pundits who jumped in on Savethelastdance as the second coming of perhaps Ouija Board or Enable when she beat a poor field to win the Cheshire Oaks on soft ground by 22 lengths.

That was her second run of the season and resulted in her going off at odds-on for the Oaks. Some had even jumped on after Chester at double figure odds for the Arc.

Things have not been just as smooth since. She never looked happy at Epsom, not being able to match Soul Sister’s winning burst of speed and, at the Curragh last weekend, she struggled for a long time to haul back her inferior pacemaking stable companion Library who had run nine times and was rated 98.

Aidan O’Brien defended his filly’s laboured effort in saying it was a long time since the Oaks at Epsom, she was coming off a break and being trained for an autumn campaign.

No doubt horses differ and are trained differently year by year but you often have to put the ‘excuses’ alongside the facts. Looking at the previous Epsom Oaks winners over the last 18 years, since O’Brien won the two classics with Alexandrova in 2006, it’s pretty normal for fillies to go from Epsom to the Curragh. Five fillies have completed the Epsom/Curragh double in that time.

In 17 runnings before Saturday, 10 Epsom winners from 17 have gone from Epsom to run in the Irish Oaks and four more beaten at Epsom then came and won at the Curragh next time.

Double

Of the O’Brien Irish Oaks winners since 2006, Alexandrova and Snowfall have done the double, straight from Epsom to the Curragh, while Epsom placegetters Peeping Fawn and Moonstone came from Epsom placing to win at the Curragh and Was, winner in 2012, was fifth in the Oaks at the Curragh on her next start.

Snow Fairy, Sariska and Enable also completed the dual Oaks double.

What ever the future holds for Savethelastdance, taking on colts will be another step up, Leger contenders will show their wares at Goodwood and York, and though stamina won the day at the Curragh, she could have her work cut out, and the Arc is another massive step.

Quote of the week

“She’s a massive big, masculine filly. She is unusual, she’s a filly but she has a pair of horns on her head, which is unusual for a filly, she’s masculine, big strong backside on her.”

Aidan O’Brien assesses Savethelastdance’s attributes on RTÉ.