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22 Aug 2024

Content gives O’ Brien and Moore plenty to smile about

New day, same result in the QIPCO British Champions Series as Content landed the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’ Brien in determined fashion.

The well bred daughter of the late, great Galileo failed to settle during the early stages of the race in the hands of Ryan Moore as stablemate Port Fairy set a generous pace towards the head of affairs.

For most of the 1m4f contest, it looked as though Emily Upjohn was set to bounce back to form and take the spoils, travelling kindly for Kieran Shoemark before buckling under siege in the final few furlongs.

Keen even upon turning into the York home straight, Ryan Moore positioned Content up against the far side rail and the Irish Oaks runner-up began to respond to his urgings, making headway to feature in a three-way battle near to the line.

Onboard Ralph Beckett’s Group 1 winning You Got To Me, Hector Crouch would be forgiven for thinking he had the race in safe keeping approaching the furlong pole given the eventual winner’s early exertions but Coolmore’s Content refused to relent, giving best to claim a maiden QIPCO British Champions Series victory by three quarters of a length in tenacious style.

Hector Crouch had to settle for second place whilst having moved through the contest with renewed zest, Emily Upjohn and Kieran Shoemark could only manage third.

In coming out on top in what was a sensational battle on the Knavesmire, Content became super-sire Galileo’s 100th individual Group 1 winner, further cementing his posthumous stature as one of the defining horses of the 21st century.

2XX4P6W Content ridden by Ryan Moore (right) on their way to winning the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks during day two of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. Picture date: Thursday August 22, 2024.

On the winner, Aidan O’ Brien affirmed that “she (Content) will be even better in a better race, a better run race”, further elaborating that “she is a typical Galileo, she will lay it all out there for you” when touching on the hardy nature of the performance.

Victorious for the fourth time at York this week, Ryan Moore was eager to praise the daughter of Galileo, stating that “if she had done everything right, she would have won easily”, perhaps highlighting the scope connections feel the filly possesses moving forwards.