Forever Together routs rivals in Investec Oaks

Forever Together and O’Brien are clear of the opposition in the Investec Oaks. Picture: Racingfotos

Forever Together lost her maiden tag in style when surging to a superb four-and-a-half-length victory in the Investec Oaks under teenager Donnacha O’Brien at Epsom.

O’Brien was adding to his QIPCO 2000 Guineas triumph aboard Saxon Warrior and provided his father, Aidan, with a seventh success in the fillies’ mile and a half Classic, which forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Aidan O’Brien first won the £500,000 Group One with Shahtoush in 1998. Since then, Imagine (2001), Alexandrova (2006), Was (2012), Qualify (2015) and Minding (2016) have been added to the roll of honour.

Forever Together, a daughter of Galileo, was having her fourth run and became the first maiden to win the Oaks since Sun Princess in 1983.

O’Brien Sr said: “This is incredible. I am so delighted for everyone; Padraig who looks after her, Emmet who rides her, then John [Magnier], Michael [Tabor], Derrick [Smith], Sue, Gay and Doreen. It is brilliant for everyone.

“Forever Together is a staying filly who gets the trip very well and is obviously by Galileo, which is a massive advantage. Donnacha gave her an unbelievable ride. I am over the moon.”

He added: “I think we will go to the Irish Oaks now. Obviously we will have to see what the lads want to do, but you’d be thinking she’d love the Curragh.

Forever Together, sent off at 7-1, won at the main expense of Wild Illusion, the 5-2 favourite.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of the runner-up, said: “Wild Illusion ran really well. She has just been outstayed I think.

“We thought stamina would be her real forte and when William made his move, I thought we were going to go through and win it, but Forever Together was on the rail and as we’ve already seen this afternoon, it is a little bit of an advantage.”

Bye Bye Baby, Magic Wind and Flattering, all trained by that man O’Brien, filled the next three places.