Miss Jean Brodie ran a brilliant race to finish second in the Darley Irish Oaks on only her third career outing at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, July 18. Successful in a Doncaster maiden on her previous start, the three-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon, trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, stayed on strongly in the straight on ground which was officially good to yielding.
She shrugged off having to be re-shoed at the start and broke well from the stalls.
William Buick raced her in mid-division of the 15 runners initially and then moved Miss Jean Brodie up to sixth as a good pace was set up front.
The filly, brought wide in the straight to make her challenge, ran on steadily to take second well inside the final furlong.
Miss Jean Brodie finished eight lengths behind the decisive winner Snow Fairy who completed a Classic double, having won the Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs previously. The winning time was 2m 34.87s.
Miss Jean Brodie came home three quarters of a length ahead of the third Lady Lupus and Mahmood Al Zarooni commented: "She has run a very good race on ground that she liked.
"The jockey rode her very well. She is still an inexperienced filly as this was only her third start. She ran a bit green and can hopefully improve again.
"We will see how she comes back from this race before any plans are made for her."
The other Godolphin runner in the Darley Irish Oaks was the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Hibaayeb with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
Hibaayeb, who won the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot the time before on fast turf, was held up towards the rear and raced in 10th.
She was asked to improve turning for home but made no progress and Frankie Dettori eased her down from two and a half furlongs out when she was beaten.
Saeed bin Suroor said: "Hibaayeb didn’t like the soft going at all - she needs better ground."
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