Hail Queen Minnie Hauk in Yorkshire Oaks Romp

Irish master O'Brien equals Ebor classic record with ninth success

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YORK - Minnie Hauk gave trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-equalling ninth victory in the £600,000 (S$1.04 million) Yorkshire Oaks (2,385m), the feature race on the second day of the Ebor meeting at York on Aug 21.

Ryan Moore eased Minnie Hauk ($6) to a 3½-length win to complete a sweep of the Epsom/Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, a feat achieved by, among others, the legendary two-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) winner Enable in 2017.

"She is beautiful," said O'Brien, who also did the Oaks sweep with Snowfall (2021) and Alexandrova (2006).

"Ryan chatted to the owners after the race and mentioned the Arc, but there is also Whirl who could go for it as she likes soft ground and Minnie Hauk for the Breeder's Cup Turf.

"She is classy. The better the race, the better she is."

Minnie Hauk's performance was appositely watched by Queen Camilla, who came down to the winners' enclosure, patted the champion filly by Frankel on the nose and had her photograph taken with the winning connections before doing the presentation.