Serving a ten-day ban for a riding blemish astride Blue Bunting and losing a third place in the Epsom Oaks have made Frankie Dettorie even more determined. Like any talented sportsperson, Dettorie came back stronger with a brilliant finish involving his mount Blue Bunting and Kevin Manning-ridden Banimpire in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks, at the Curragh, run over a mile and a half.

Banimpire took charge with a quarter mile still to go and was hounded furiously by Wonder Of Wonders and Laughing Lashes. Dynaformer's Blue Bunting played the waiting game to the hilt lying towards the rear end of the field with only two behind her. It was not all smooth sailing though for Dettorie, as he had to make adept manoeuvres to seek a clear path between horses and once he surfaced, coming into the final furlong, Blue Bunting was right up with her forceful best to land a terrific victory on the last stride. This was Godolphin’s first win in the race. Wonder Of Wonders and Laughing Lashes finished in that order in a close finish, half a length adrift from the first two.

"The pace was solid, the five good ones were all together turning for home and the best filly won," said Dettorie. "I got myself a bit stuck two [furlongs] out as she wasn't going forward for me. As a last resort, I decided to switch her to the outside and that won me the race. I was really struggling when I was stuck behind the other horses, but once she saw a bit of daylight she went forward."

A delighted trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, who was celebrating a second classic success this season, said, "It was a brilliant ride by Frankie. The pacemaker did a good job. I wasn't too confident coming here, we have a good filly but she was taking on top class ones. We'll look at the Yorkshire Oaks."