Minnie Hauk Dominates to Complete British Oaks Double

Coolmore's Minnie Hauk Adds Irish Oaks to Epsom Triumph, Giving O'Brien 1,000th Group Win

Minnie Hauk (right) Wins Irish Oaks with Authority / ITM

Quality can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes with power, other times with elegance. And on rare occasions, it appears almost disinterested—a natural ease so fluid it can be deceiving. Minnie Hauk, the best 3-year-old filly in Britain, belongs firmly to that last category.

The daughter of Frankel out of Multilingual (Dansili) didn’t need to dazzle or extend herself to claim Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1, 2400m, turf) at The Curragh, completing a coveted classic double after her victory in the Epsom Oaks (G1) in early June. She did it on the bridle, without ever being asked for her full effort, leaving the distinct impression that another gear remained untouched. That’s Minnie Hauk: she wins, and yet it always feels she could win even more emphatically.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore, Minnie Hauk finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of Wemightbekelongway (Australia), who had also finished behind her when fourth at Epsom. In third, another 2 1/2 lengths back, came Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett), a stablemate and pacemaker who ran bravely to complete the trifecta.

It was a tactical affair, with no strong early pace, allowing Ryan Moore to manage her energy with composure. “She had a very easy time of it,” said O’Brien. “The pace wasn’t strong, so she should come out of this well. You’d think she’d enjoy York with her big stride and that flat track. But of course, the lads will decide with Derek and Michael.” The Yorkshire Oaks (G1) is a natural next step, though the Prix Vermeille (G1) could also be a preparatory option ahead of an Arc bid.

Moore was satisfied but admitted Minnie Hauk remains something of an enigma: “She wasn’t doing much… I had to wake her up a bit to go by Dylan [Browne McMonagle], similar to Epsom. She can fool you. She’s becoming more professional, and today we learned a bit more about her. When she hit the front at Epsom she relaxed too much, like she did at Chester. She’s bred to keep progressing.”

The win carried additional significance: it marked Aidan O’Brien’s 1000th Group victory, an astonishing milestone for the Ballydoyle maestro. Reflecting briefly, he said: “It’s a special number, of course. But it’s really a testament to the team, the collective work, and the trust the owners place in us. Without that, none of this would be possible.”

By Frankel, Minnie Hauk is a half-sister to Tilsit (First Defence), winner of the Summer Mile Stakes (G2) and Thoroughbred Stakes (G3). Her dam, Multilingual, is a full-sister to G3 winner Remote and a half-sister to outstanding miler Kingman (Invincible Spirit). The granddam, Zenda (Zamindar), is herself a half-sister to top sprinter Oasis Dream (Green Desert) and from the elite family of Beat Hollow (Sadler’s Wells), among others.

For Minnie Hauk, the future looks as bright as her pedigree suggests. She has proven herself the best of her generation, and now the prospect of tackling older fillies and mares looms on the horizon. Europe’s autumn could see her carve out a place among the greats. She certainly has the talent to do it.