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She ran a great race’, says Ballydoyle trainer

Aidan O’Brien made no excuses for Pink Dogwood  following her narrow defeat in the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

Having made a successful start to her campaign in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan in late April, the daughter of Camelot was strongly fancied to provide her trainer with an eighth victory in the fillies’ Classic.

Supporters of the Ballydoyle first string must have been smiling after Pink Dogwood sprinted from the rear to grab the lead racing inside the final two furlongs under Ryan Moore.

However, she was ultimately unable to resist the persistent challenge of the John Gosden-trained Anapurna and it was Frankie Dettori’s mount who won the day by a neck.

O’Brien, who was also responsible for third-placed Fleeting, said: “I was delighted everything went well and both fillies settled lovely.

“She (Pink Dogwood) ran a great race. It was her first run over a mile and a half, but she ran a lovely race.

“I don’t know if she was outstayed. She just got collared late and when they do you can always say things like that, but you are never sure.

“We will see how she is and will decide what to do next time.”