Trainer’s words come back to bite him as hot-favourite Desert Flower beaten in Oaks by Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk

TRAINER Charlie Appleby’s words came back to bite him as red-hot Oaks favourite Desert Flower was turned over by Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk.

Speaking before the blockbuster, season-defining Group 1, Godolphin trainer Appleby said he thought jockey William Buick would be putting the race to bed at the 2f pole.

PA

Minnie Hauk wins the Oaks ahead of Whirl making it a 1-2 for Coolmore as hot fav Desert Flower could only finish third[/caption]

Getty

Charlie Appleby was incredibly bullish on his 1,000 Guineas winner beforehand but she never seriously looked like winning[/caption]

But the 11-10 1,000 Guineas winner who looked awesome at Newmarket last month didn’t seem to handle the rollercoaster Epsom track.

And by the time the 2f pole did appear she had loads of work to do to chase down Aidan O’Brien pair 9-2 Minnie Hauk and 17-2 Whirl.

Desert Flower did get going but far too late.

And by that time it was down to a battle between the two Coolmore runners with Moore, so, so strong in the finish, prevailing over Wayne Lordan to give his boss an 11th win in the race.

The big talk before the off was whether the previously unbeaten Desert Flower would stay the trip.

Former top jockey Johnny Murtagh said on ITV that she definitely DID – she just didn’t handle the track.

Murtagh said: “You cannot say William Buick’s horse didn’t stay – it’s just that the other two were superior.”

The big question now is whether Appleby’s Ruling Court will handle tomorrow’s Derby.

The brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner has big questions to answer over the trip, track and going, with a yellow weather warning in place at Epsom.

Moore will ride O’Brien’s Delacroix in the world’s most famous Flat race – but a draw of 14 hasn’t been overly kind to him, as the pair go for a hat-trick in the £1.5million contest.

More to follow.

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