Irish Fillies Dominate In Group 1 French Oaks

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Donnacha O'Brien's has led home an Irish one-two-three in the at Chantilly.

The former dual champion only took out his training licence earlier this year, following in the footsteps of his father Aidan O'Brien – who completed the Derby and Oaks double at Epsom on Saturday – and his brother, Joseph.

Fancy Blue was a +650 shot to provide the 21-year-old fledgling trainer with a first Classic success in the French Oaks, having filled the runner-up spot behind his father's filly in the Irish 1,000 Guineas three weeks ago.

The pair renewed rivalry in France – and were joined on the trip from Ireland by the -trained , who was the +150 favourite to follow up her triumph in the at .

Drawn one, the latter made much of the running in the hands of and did not go down without a , but Fancy Blue eventually wore her down under Pierre-Charles Boudot to claim a narrow victory.

Peaceful was just behind her compatriots in third.

“There's so much pressure and a lot of work goes into it, but this feeling is great and thank God she won,” O'Brien said.

“I always knew she was a very good filly and we always thought the step up in trip would suit her. It definitely did.

“The home straight felt like a lifetime, I didn't really know what was going on. Thankfully at the end of it all she got her head in front.

“I was glad we didn't go to Epsom after what I saw yesterday. I would say Love is a fair machine. Thankfully we made the right call in sending her to France.”

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