In a ground-saving journey through the field, Content seized the lead in mid-stretch, ultimately securing a three-quarter-length victory on Thursday in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, valued at US$687,511. This win marked Coolmore’s third triumph this week in a Breeders’ Cup qualifier at York, England.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore followed up their successes from Wednesday, where they celebrated wins with City Of Troy in the International (G1) and The Lion In Winter in the Acomb (G3).
With her Thursday victory, Content (3-1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.) earned an invitation to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 2 at Del Mar. Last year, she finished fourth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
Port Fairy (20-1, 22-1) set the early pace in the race for 3-year-old fillies, which was just short of 1 1/2 miles on good to firm turf. After a left turn leading into the 500-yard homestretch, Emily Upjohn (5-1, 7-2) and You Got To Me (4-1, 9-2) moved to the front down the centre of the course.
Meanwhile, Moore had Content closely following from near the inside rail. Upon exiting the turn, Content responded and surged to the lead in the final furlong, securing the victory. You Got To Me finished second, reversing the finishing order from last month’s Irish Oaks (G1) at the Curragh.
Emily Upjohn placed third, with Mistral Star (15-1, 11-1), Sea Theme (20-1, 11-1), Lava Stream (15-1, 33-1), Port Fairy, and post-time favourite Queen of The Pride (2-1, 3-1), who was eased, finishing fourth through eighth in that order.
The race concluded with a winning time of 2:28.75, with no run-up involved.
Content is a homebred filly for Coolmore, sired by Galileo and out of the Dark Angel mare Mecca’s Angel, a two-time Nunthorpe (G1) champion at York. This victory ended a five-race losing streak that began with the 2023 Breeders’ Cup. Prior to Thursday, her only two wins were in her third race last year and in the Staffordstown Stud (G3) on October 7 at the Curragh.
Notably, this win marks the 100th Group 1 victory for horses sired by Galileo, who passed away three years ago.