Aidan O'Brien ran six in yesterday's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks but for once this season, the Ballydoyle trainer had to settle for a minor role as the Ed Dunloptrained Lailani edged her stable companion, Mot Juste, out of victory by a neck.
It was a length back to the O'Brien pair of Karsavina and Sequoyah but even with the flamboyant Frankie Dettori on the winner, the day revolved around the Dunlop family.
John Dunlop, attempting a clean sweep of Irish Classics, watched Time Away fail to stay in fifth but did so in the company of his 32-year-old son who watched the £28,000 supplementary fee paid out to get Lailani into the race come up trumps.
"I said to Ed in the stands that I had never won the race and he turned to me and said he had never even had a runner in it!" said the proud father who was champion trainer in Britain in 1995.
His Eton-educated son has had a licence since 1994 and made a flying start to his career with a classic victory in the 1996 French 1,000 Guineas (Ta-Rib.) There was another Group One winner the same year in Iktimal but top level success has been scarce until Dunlop Jnr, having his first Curragh runners, dominated yesterday's race.
Mot Juste travelled beautifully throughout and looked a winner as the favourite Relish The Thought faded badly but Dettori brought Lailani with a steady run to wear her down and complete a remarkable graduation to Group One class.
Lailani's last race had been an Epsom handicap but she had beaten Saturday's John Smith's Cup winner Foreign Affairs on that occasion and Dettori was confident she could pull out the extra required.
"Obviously she had a few pounds to find but she has been winning well and every task we've shown her, she has pulled it off. She is not flashy but she gets it done and Ed has done a wonderful job with her," said Dettori who was winning his first Irish Oaks.
Dunlop reported: "Lailani is not entered in anything but I suppose we will look at the Yorkshire Oaks. Frankie has given her a great ride from the worst draw today and I think the second filly is improving too. The Arc could be an option for her."
The Yorkshire Oaks is also an option for Karsavina while both Sequoyah and Time Away could go next for Goodwood's Nassau Stakes in 19 days time.
Goodwood's feature, the Sussex Stakes, was on O'Brien's mind following the Group Three Minstrel Stakes when he was the trainer overseeing a one-two for King Charlemagne and Mull Of Kintyre.
"You would have to look at the Sussex for both of them. The jockeys say it rode a real good race and the time was very fast so I have to be pleased with them as the two of them will come on for this," said O'Brien after King Charlemagne got home by a neck.
The record Oaks crowd of 10,152 witnessed a popular local success for the former top jump jockey Kevin O'Brien who trained Newpark Lady to overhaul Pipisflying in the closing stages of the Rockingham Handicap.
It was a first track success for O'Brien, a first winner of the season too and Newpark Lady could go for a quick follow up at Leopardstown on Wednesday ight.
JP McManus's mother, Bridie, had her colours carried to victory by Tarakan in the mile handicap and Thurles trainer Pat Carey watched Real Delight hold off Soaring Eagle in a driving finish to the auction maiden.
