Battling Oaks second for Wild Illusion

Wild Illusion produced another brave performance in Classic company when coming home a clear second in the G1 Oaks at Epsom Downs, UK, on Friday, 1 June.

The three-year-old daughter of Dubawi, stepping up to a mile and a half after finishing a close fourth over a mile in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket the previous month, broke well and raced prominently before being covered up on the inside rail in fourth of the nine runners after a furlong and a half.

She was angled out by William Buick turning for home and tacked across towards the stands’ rail with Forever Together and Magic Wand at the top of the straight.

The Godolphin filly ran on to collar long-time leader Bye Bye Baby passing the two-furlong marker, but was immediately passed by Forever Together, who quickened clear to score by four and a half lengths in 2m 40.39s on ground described as soft, good to soft in places.

Wild Illusion, trained by Charlie Appleby, kept on in the closing stages to finish three and a half lengths clear of the third Bye Bye Baby, with a further three lengths back to Magic Wand in fourth.

Charlie Appleby said: “Wild Illusion ran really well. She has just been outstayed I think. She has run a very solid race there.

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

“The plan was to drop in behind the pace, ideally with a sensible gallop going on. The leader went off five or six lengths clear, but there was still a nice, sensible gallop in behind.

“We always knew that they were going to fan out and come across to the stands’ rail.

“Wild Illusion didn’t look that comfortable coming down the hill, but she came there to win her race and we got beaten by a better horse on the day who was a superior stayer.

“Wild Illusion has lost nothing in defeat and lives to fight another day.” William Buick added: “I’m very proud of Wild Illusion. She has grown up a hell of a lot and had only one run this year previously, albeit a good one in the 1000 Guineas,

“It was her first attempt at a mile and a half today. I thought she did everything right. She stayed well. It is very testing out there for the fillies.

“Me and Donnacha (O’Brien on the winner) were basically in the same place and it was a great fight, but full credit to the winner.

“We were drawn one, but we weren’t unlucky in any way and I wouldn’t call it a bad draw.

“She is a filly who stays a mile and a half and has a bit of zip and class. She has finished second in an Oaks so we are really happy with her.”