Lush Lashes Wins Yorkshire Oaks in Style

A change in venue and an additional day’s wait proved not to be a hindrance to Lush Lashes, as the Jim Bolger trainee powered down the center of the course to capture the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I) by 1 1/4 lengths at Newmarket Aug. 22.

The race, originally scheduled for Thursday at York’s Ebor meeting, had to be rescheduled after race officials were forced to abandon the entire festival meet due to excessive rain and a waterlogged racecourse. The Oaks did lose a major contender when Promising Lead, winner of the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I), was withdrawn due to the course change.

Lush Lashes was held up in last by Kevin Manning as longshot Cape Amber set a solid pace up front under Frankie Dettori. Allegretto raced along in second, followed closely by Dar Re Mi and Michita.

The order remained unchanged until three furlongs out, when Cape Amber ran out of steam and began to fade. Allegretto assumed the lead, but she was quickly joined by Dar Re Mi. Manning switched Lush Lashes to the near side of the stands and had the daughter of Galileo under a strong drive.

Lush Lashes took command a furlong out, and powered away to win impressively in course-record time. Dar Re Mi finished second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of stablemate Michita. The disappointment of the race was Henry Cecil’s Passage of Time, who never seemed interested in running and finished fifth.

Final time for the 12 furlongs over the good-to-firm course was 2:25.11, which broke the course record by 2.39 seconds.

Bolger is keeping all options open for his star filly, including a possible trip to the Breeders’ Cup. “She could well race on next year and go to Dubai in the spring,” Bolger told the press afterward. “She has an invite to Hong Kong, too, and we will give consideration to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Lush Lashes, who was bred in England by Mrs. A.M. Jenkins, is out of the winning Anabaa mare, Dance for Fun. She is owned by Bolger’s wife, Jackie.