Gosden delight as Great Heavens takes the honours in Irish classic

Monday 23 July 2012

Great Heavens showed a tremendous turn of foot to win the Irish Oaks at the Curragh yesterday.

William Buick kisses Great Heavens after their victory in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh yesterday. Picture: PA

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She looked beaten two furlongs out as Shirocco Star and Was became involved in a barging match at the head of affairs.

Although Shirocco Star saw off the Epsom Oaks heroine Was, jockey William Buick was just getting into overdrive on the eventual winner, and once in the clear, Great Heavens picked up in fine style to continue her rapid improvement this season and maintain trainer John Gosden's golden summer.

The Dermot Weld-trained Ribblesdale winner Princess Highway could not quicken up in the testing ground.Great Heavens, sent off the heavily backed 5-4 favourite, is a full sister to Saturday's King George runner-up Nathaniel. Both horses are owned by Lady Rothschild.Great Heavens also became Gosden and Buick's second Group 1 winner in Ireland this season after Izzi Top struck in the Pretty Polly Stakes.Gosden said of the three-length winner: "She got boxed in, and with the draw on the inside, it was never the intention to stay there. She showed a lot of class and a lot of courage, the ground is very holding, so it's not easy to pick up."I'd nearly given up hope at the two-furlong marker. I didn't think we'd get out, but she's got a lot of ability."She's classy. She had to be asked a really big question in the last furlong and she went and opened up three lengths on the field, so I think it says a lot about her."She's actually put weight on between her races. She's one of those rare ones that seems to eat and do better, she's got a good temperament. It's not easy with this weather."She'll be freshened up now and then she'll be in races like the Yorkshire Oaks and she could also have an entry in the Leger. There's no reason that a filly of her class couldn't do something like that – someone has got to take on Camelot."Buick, celbrating his 24th birthday, said: "What a filly – that's certainly one of the best birthday presents I've ever had. It got a bit tricky halfway there and I was kind of cursing myself at one stage."She was the best horse by far in the race. She picks up and she quickens. She's a very good filly and I think people have underestimated her."It was a good training performance by John Gosden. She didn't really come to hand early in the season and he's just given her time and con-fidence and picked up nice races in between."* THE Charlie Hills-trained One Word More can oblige his followers in the Bet toteplacepot Text Tote To 89660 EBF Maiden Stakes today at Ayr.The Thousand Words colt has had the misfortunate to bump into two from the Richard Hannon yard who look way above average.On debut, he went down to the highly touted Toronado at Newbury and on his return, Montiridge beat him by just more than a length.The pair pulled five lengths clear of the third that day and that is always a good sign, so unless one of the newcomers is way above average One Word More should open his account.Hannon's Califante has shaped promisingly in two starts and looks the one to be on in the Maiden Fillies Stakes at Windsor.Fourth at Doncaster and third at Newbury, she can put those experiences to good use to give the trainer his customary Monday night winner at the track.Not many trainers scour the programme book as closely as Sir Mark Prescott, so the fact he is sending Solar View to Beverley for the Kingston Bypass Maiden Handicap is noteworthy.The Newmarket handler has found an unusual contest on the Westwood, there are not many maidens run over this distance, but it appears his Galileo gelding needs every yard of the two miles.Not surprisingly he ran a career-best when upped to 12 furlongs at Hamilton earlier this month and ran into a very well handicapped horse from the Mick Easterby yard when he tried a mile and threequarters last time out.The front two pulled nine lengths clear of the third at Wolverhampton and Solar View was certainly not stopping.Luke Morris is also making the trip north and running over this extreme distance for the first time should bring about even more improvement.

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Gosden delight as Great Heavens takes the honours in Irish classic

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