Nathaniel's You Got To Me Can't be Caught in the Irish Oaks

Fourth in the Oaks and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}–Brushing {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) made the necessary improvement on Saturday to clinch the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh. Reserved by Hector Crouch in mid-division throughout the early stages in contrast to the forceful ride she was given at Royal Ascot, the well-supported 15-2 shot moved to the front a furlong out with the 3-1 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in hot pursuit.

Where Content had met with trouble in running in the straight which delayed her assault, the Ralph Beckett trainee enjoyed a smooth passage and at the line that was possibly crucial as she registered a 3/4-of-a-length success from that Ballydoyle representative. There was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) in third. The quest for Galileo's 100th group 1 winner continues, with his daughter ironically denied by a progeny of his son Nathaniel.

“I've always had a lot of faith in her thought she was very good and I thought the track would suit her,” Crouch said. “That was the best she's raced for me and it's a very, very special day–I'm extremely thankful to Ralph and to Valmont and to Newsells Park Stud for keeping the faith in me and this filly. I was a touch slow away and I had to take it as it came. She was very tough and very brave when I needed her–when she's good, she's very good.”

You Got To Me lands the feature Group 1 @JuddmonteFarms Irish Oaks as she powers ahead to score under the guidance of @HectorCrouch for trainer @RalphBeckett pic.twitter.com/AAgQuad6Wu

— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) July 20, 2024

Bursting onto the scene with a dramatic all-the-way win in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial in May, You Got To Me was too free in the Oaks and paid the price and by the time she crossed the line tired in the Ribblesdale having set off in isolation there was a sense that she could be heading the wrong way. Perfectly settled here despite the restraint, she turned around her fortunes resolutely to reward her stable's work and reflect her growing maturity.

Beckett added, “She was training well in the spring and did it the hard way at Lingfield, then it didn't really work out in the Oaks and she went a bit hard in the Ribblesdale, which can happen at Ascot. A tongue strap on today probably helped, as it just gave her something else to think about. Hector said he had to barge through everywhere to get a position and to keep his position. She's a very brave filly.”

“The plan was to be forward and kick on from the top of the hill, but you always have to have a plan B,” he added. “Hector is not a man that panics and he knew what was going to happen after five strides and rode a race to fit her.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Content, “Ryan said she is made for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and we'll pick a race for her beforehand. She's been very busy and wouldn't mind a break. She wasn't stopping at the finish there and ran a great race.”

Pedigree Notes
The fourth European Classic winner following on from Desert Crown (GB), Enable (GB) and Channel (Ire), You Got To Me is out of the Listed Galtres Stakes winner Brushing whose dam Seasonal Blossom (Ire) (Fairy King) is a half-sister to the GII Bay Meadows Handicap winner Wait Till Monday (Ire) (Maelstrom lake {Ire}) and the G3 C L Weld Park Stakes winner Token Gesture (Ire) (Alzao). She is in turn the dam of the GI Canadian International hero Relaxed Gesture (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the GII All American Derby winner Evolving Tactics (Ire) (Machiavellian). Also related to the multiple group 1 winner Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), her currently unnamed 2-year-old filly is by Time Test (GB).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €575,000, Curragh, 7-20, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:32.61, gd.
1–YOU GOT TO ME (GB), 128, f, 3, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Brushing (GB) (SW-Eng), by Medicean (GB)
2nd Dam: Seasonal Blossom (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Temporary Lull, by Super Concorde
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (62,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Valmont & Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock 24; B-Dullingham Park Stud & Sarabex (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Hector Crouch. €290,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 6-3-0-0, $419,200. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Content (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Mecca's Angel (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €100,000.
3–Purple Lily (Ire), 128, f, 3, Calyx (GB)–Boca Raton (Ire), by Approve (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€17,500 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €24,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; €155,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Zinlo Syndicate; B-B O'Neill (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €50,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 7.50, 3.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Elizabeth Jane (Ire), Caught U Looking (Ire), Hanalia (Ire), Dare To Dream (Fr), War Chimes (Fr), Lava Stream (Ire), Galileo Dame (Ire), Lope De Lilas (Ire), Madam Celeste (Ire), Port Fairy (Ire), Rubies Are Red (Ire).