TINA CAPTURES ENGLISH OAKS FOR TEAM HOLLAND

Ian Fortune

Graham Holland made a powerful raid on the PGR English Oaks and it paid off at the Wolverhampton venue on Saturday night as Ballydoyle Tina powered home to land the classic in tremendous fashion.

The brilliantly fast daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballydoyle Rossa was at her sharpest in the early yards and slipped around second behind Slingshot Poppy. In contrast, warm favourite and kennel companion to Ballydoyle Tina, Fahrenheit jess missed the kick and also missedas she hit the sand.

Suddenly, this became a two-dog affair. Slingshot Poppy turned in front but Ballydoyle Tina turned on her heels and the result seemed inevitable thereafter. Owners Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan were on the brink of capturing the Oaks title and when Ballydoyle Tina turned for home, she made her move. Staying wide of Slingshot Poppy, she powered home to record a famous success by neck in 28.09.

After her early woes, Fahrenheit Jess finished back in fifth. In victory, Ballydoyle Tina became the third Irish trained winner this century after Droopys Stacey in 2005 and Billy Diva in 2021.