Although out of luck in the Derby, Aidan O’Brien fared much better in Friday’s Oaks, when his son Donnacha partnered Forever Together to victory.

It was Donnacha’s second classic in just over a month, after he partnered Saxon Warrior to win the 2,000 Guineas and it was Aidan’s seventh win in the race.

Forever Together, yet another classic winner for her sire Galileo, went to Epsom as a maiden from three starts but she ran an eye-catching race in the Cheshire Oaks when chasing home stablemate Magic Wand, who reopposed and was the choice ride of Ryan Moore.

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The pair nearly impeded each other when entering the straight and dashing across to the stands’ side rail, which held the better ground. However Forever Together came away best and she powered away from Charlie Appleby’s Wild Illusion, who had been a very well backed favourite, to win by four and a half lengths. O’Brien had four of the first five, with runaway leader Bye Bye Baby holding on for third, Magic Wand in fourth and Flattering fifth.

The Ballydoyle handler missed his son’s first classic as he was in Kentucky but was on hand at Epsom and spoke proudly: “This is incredible and I am over the moon. Donnacha is a very good rider – he’s very cool and confident. He’s been watching races since the day his eyes opened so tactically he’s very aware. We’re delighted and so grateful to a lot of people that we are in this position.”