Frankie Dettori’s fantastic recent form in Group 1 races continued on Saturday as he saddled Star Catcher to glory in the Irish Oaks. The John Gosden-trained filly dictated the race at the Curragh from start to finish to hand Dettori his eighth Group 1 success inFrankie Dettori the last 50 days.
Fleeting did end up finishing half a length behind Star Catcher for trainer Aidan O’Brien, but Dettori was always confident the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned filly could withstand any challenge. “It was a matter of getting the fractions right and Fleeting came to me, but Star Catcher could have gone on again,” the 48-year-old was quoted as saying by the Racing Post.
Star Catcher, who was also a winner in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, was only supplemented into the race on Tuesday and Dettori was happy to see that decision pay off. “She has done nothing but improve and John is a great trainer,” the Italian added. “We put our neck on the block in supplementing her, but we thought she was good enough.”
