Agreed, Bustino, and it's not the first time. I think that Frankie was sure that he had it won, and didn't ride his horse right out through the line. My impression is that his confidence in his own judgment of relative speeds/distances is so great that he takes pride in knowing the the exact moment to stop applying full 100% pressure. You may recall almost the identical situation in the Nunthorpe a few years ago, when he got pipped by Luke Morris and Marsha.
Thank you, Tamerlo, for putting my own similar opinion/comments on the race, made shortly after the finish, in such a comprehensive and knowledgeable manner. A very clear and accurate account of this year's Oaks.
I do wonder whether Dettori choose to come down the stand side or whether his hand was forced by Kawida hanging round Tattenham corner and taking Emily Upjohn with her? It certainly checked her momentum and potentially cost her the race but it was a strange ride by Dettori. Two very good fillies though but will we see a rematch? Maybe not until the Yorkshire Oaks?
I think that you will find that Aidan O’Brien personally attended to the saddling of all four of his runners although ITV may only have shown one. I have been at many a big race meeting where he has had multiple runners and as they go around the pre-parade ring their handlers are called into the saddling boxes one at a time; or in some cases he tends to them in the middle of the pre-parade ring. In the betting, all the money was piling on my selection Concert Hall from 12/1 down to 15/2. She was not helped by the sedate early pace as she really needed a test of stamina plus she did not handle the track. When Dettori cruised up alongside her two furlongs out pulling double I was expecting him to win by a street and I knew I would not be collecting. Emily Upjohn kept a fairly straight line all the way to the post while the winner Tuesday hung across the track into the whip to end up next to her. In the last fifty yards or so, the ground is rising towards the post and I wonder if that was what did for the favourite. Is it possible she simply did not get home? Her dam Hidden Brief has not produced a winner beyond ten furlongs and her only win was an egg and spoon race at that trip. The other thing that has not been mentioned is that Dettori was forced wide around Tattenham Corner while the winner was on the inside so ending up stands side was not his choice. At this point I think this only looks like an average renewal of the race but it is early in the season and neither filly has loads of miles on the clock so I expect to see improvement from both of them. If there were a rematch in the Irish Oaks, I think the track would suit Tuesday more and I would expect her to confirm the running. Obviously as three year old fillies they jumped to the head of the Arc betting and the flat track at Longchamp would suit Emily Upjohn, provided that it does not come up very soft and they persevere with her over twelve furlongs.
It reminded very much of Eddery's ride on El Gran Senor. He didn't use the momentum of his charge to put the race out of question. He just sat almost motionless and let Secreto outstay him. Similarly Dettori didn't go for the jugular yesterday,, he had the momentum and didn't use it. He then appeared to be outstayed yet 5 yards past the line he was in front again. Must admit I agree with QM that Tuesday may well win a rematch. The only thing against her is that she's a bit light framed and may not take a lot of racing.
