Taghrooda scores convincingly in Epsom Oaks

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum was at Epsom on Friday to watch his colors carried

to first and second places in the Group 1 Oaks. His home-bred filly Taghrooda, a

daughter of brilliant Derby winner Sea the Stars, scored readily by 3 3/4

lengths from Tarfasha, who was a nose ahead of Volume.

The winner was a first Oaks success for trainer John Gosden, Dermot Weld

trained the runner-up, while Volume represented Luca Cumani's stable.

"Paul (Hanagan) rode her perfectly, although she got a bump that put her onto

the wrong leg and meant she was leading on her off-fore coming down Tattenham

Corner, which is where you don't want to be doing that," Gosden said.

"Cleverly, Paul got her back onto her near fore and she did it well. Two good

fillies were second and third so it looks like a good Oaks. I always thought she

was a nice filly, but I felt the extra two furlongs was right up her alley,

which is why he had her handy. Richard (Hughes, on Volume) was in front trying

to ride the race to suit himself and his filly won a trial in that way, so we

knew if he was playing with the pace we wanted to be where we could do something

about it and use our filly's class. Paul did just that and it was a very smooth

performance.

"It doesn't get any better," said Angus Gold, racing manager and bloodstock

advisor to Sheikh Hamdan. "We bought Taghrooda's dam, Ezima, as a filly out of

training at the December Sales, while Stephen Collins (general manager at the

Sheikh's Derrinstown Stud in Ireland) bought Tarfasha as a foal (€200,000 at

Goffs) so full credit to him.

"I don't want to sound clever after the race, but Tagroohda is classy and it

hasn't surprised me. I wasn't as worried about soft ground as everyone else,

because Paul had ridden her on soft and said she handled it. If the two fillies

come out of it in good order there is no reason why they can't both run in the

Irish Oaks."

The 5-1 winner is now unbeaten in three starts to date and her victory gave

Hanagan his first classic winner following his appointment as Sheikh Hamdan's

retained jockey in 2012.

"This feels great -- it's a brilliant feeling," Hanagan said. "This is what

I've worked hard for all my life. I'm so pleased for the team though -- Sheikh

Hamdan, John Gosden and Angus Gold. They have shown so much faith in me and this

feels like I've given them something back.

"The race went almost completely to plan. I've been going through the race in

my head for the last month or so and it pretty much matched what happened today.

"There was one slight scare about five furlongs out when she got a bit of a

bump and changed legs coming down the hill. I managed to get her back on the

right leg though and she organized herself again pretty quickly.

"I'm not really surprised that she ran like that. I've always had plenty of

faith in this filly as I ride her out in work most mornings and I knew she had

quality. She's just a pleasure to ride."

Richard Hills, Sheikh Hamdan's former retained jockey and now his racing

advisor, was clearly emotional after the race and fought back the tears as he

spoke after the race. Hills' brother John died of pancreatic cancer last Sunday

and the former pilot felt his sibling was looking down on him following

Taghrooda's victory.

"This is what we work for and John wished me good luck over the weekend with

this horse," Hills said. "He was definitely there with us today. I'm so pleased

for the boss (Sheikh Hamdan) and everyone else -- it's a big lift for the Hills

family."

The Dermot Weld-trained Tarfasha completed a one-two for owner Sheikh Hamdan

when runner-up in the Oaks.

"We're absolutely thrilled and the winner is obviously exceptional," said

Weld's son Mark. "We're very happy with Tarfasha and we have a lot to look

forward to with her. I think this could turn out to be a vintage renewal of the

Oaks.

"We must thank Sheikh Hamdan for allowing us to run here because she is from

a family that has done well at Epsom and she has added to the record. She could

possibly go to the Irish Oaks, over the road from us, but we'll see what Sheikh

Hamdan wants to do."

Luca Cumani, trainer of third-placed Volume, said: "It was a very good run

and it's very satisfying to know she belongs to this company. The winner was

very impressive and we were coming back again at the finish. We'll go to the

Irish Oaks now. The Curragh will suit her as she's a big long-striding filly."

Peter Chapple-Hyam, who saddled Inchila to be fourth, said: "She maybe should

have been second. She fell out of the stalls and it wasn't the plan to sit out

the back. She loves fast ground and is a decent filly. I suppose she could go to

the Curragh."