Ezeliya romps home to win the Epsom Oaks
Forty three years after Dermot Weld landed the Epsom Oaks with Blue Wind (Lord Gayle), the trainer was provided with his second success in the Classic when Ezeliya stormed clear in the final furlong to win the Group 1 under Chris Hayes.
Having broken her maiden on her second start as a juvenile, the filly made her seasonal reappearance with a victory in the Salsabil Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Navan and she continued on the upward trajectory with her win on Friday, a victory which handed his sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) a first triumph in the race.
“It’s a very special day. Competition is very keen nowadays and we’re very fortunate to have a filly for His Highness that is as good as this,” Weld told Racing TV.
“She’s a beautifully mannered animal and a beautiful filly to train. Patience has paid dividends with her; we took our time with her as a two-year-old, and just gave her one run this year when she won nicely at Navan.
“She loves to come from off the pace, this is a progressive filly. She’s very relaxed and got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes. She was cantering down the hill then he gave her a couple of strides and let her go.”
As for plans for the filly, Weld said she would either head to the Irish Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) at the Curragh on July 20 or they would target an autumn campaign.
Hayes, who was born six years after jockey Lester Piggott, who rode Weld’s last Oaks winner in 1981, said: “It was Lester Piggott who rode her [Blue Wind] and I’m no Lester Piggott. She’s [Ezeliya] a queen. She’s a very professional, strong-travelling filly. She did everything right, not a step did she take wrong.
“I just wanted to keep momentum on her and angle her out at the top of the straight and she just leapt onto the bridle again. I knew she’d stay and I knew she had class – it’s brilliant.”
Elizya is a half-sister to winner Eziva (Medaglia D’Oro), being the second foal out of the Teofilo (Galileo) mare Eziyra, a five-time winner at Group level including the Blandford Stakes (Gr 2, 7f).
Eziyra is a half-sister to Listed winner Eshera (Oratorio), being out of a half-sister to Ascot Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m 4f) winners Enzeli (Kahyasi) and Estimate (Monsun).