INVESTEC OAKS

(GROUP 1)

THE Aidan O’Brien success story goes on and on.

Yesterday, with five to represent him, the Ballydoyle maestro landed his seventh Oaks at Epsom as Forever Together, in the hands of son Donnacha, ran out a clear-cut and highly impressive winner of the Investec-sponsored classic.

Forever Together, 7/1, became the first maiden to prevail since Sun Princess in 1983. Unfortunate in running at Chester, where she finished runner-up to stable-companion Magic Wand, she reversed that form in no uncertain manner and had four and a half lengths to spare over 5/2 favourite Wild Illusion, with her own stable-companion Bye Baby Baby back in third.

BALLYDOYLE

As is often the case these days, the Ballydoyle contingent controlled the race to a degree, with his quintet occupying five of the first six places as they climbed the hill on the far side. The exception was Wild lllusion, who raced alongside the winner at that stage.

However, there was no question of anything being held in and, as they swung wide off the bend, the pair made their move towards the nearside rails at the same time.

Briefly, the Godolphin camp as well as favourite backers thought the prize was there for the taking but, after settling down to fight out the finish, Forever Together clearly had far more left to give and surged clear.

Bye Bye Baby kept on well after leading the field into the straight, and Magic Wand finished a creditable fourth, Ryan Moore giving way when it became clear the winner was travelling much the better.

This was only Forever Together’s fourth public outing. By Galileo (seemingly inevitably), she has all the top middle-distance races in her sights and it will be fascinating to see at what point she takes on older horses.

“She’s so genuine and a proper staying filly,” Donnacha O’Brien said. “I should have been a lot closer at Chester but got into a bit of trouble. I was always happy with the way the race panned out after following Ryan across.”

There is little more to be said about O’Brien senior, though Donnacha found a nice line when asked about his record-breaking father and mentor.

“Well,” he said, “when you’re riding one of his you know you have a chance!”