TORONTO — Globe and Mail by BEVERLEY SMITH
Jun. 13, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/roan-inish-captures-woodbine-oaks/article1602819/

The Costigans, you have to think, have a way with fillies.

On Sunday, Carolyn Costigan, a female trainer and a rookie among rookies, won the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks with her father's filly, Roan Inish.

Several years ago, Robert Costigan, of Coquitlam, B.C., owned Arravale, a mare that became Canada's horse of the year. He also owned Inish Glora, the mother of Roan Inish.

“Have you not got to love this sport?” Carolyn said after the race. “This is my idea of having a good time.” Then she ran off to saddle a horse in the next race, with Irish jockey David Moran not far behind.

Roan Inish displayed such grit and such a good stretch kick in winning the Oaks that she may be on her way to the $1-million Queen's Plate in three weeks. Her time of 1:50.53 for the 1 1/8-mile race compared favourably to the clocking of Big Red Mike, which won the Plate Trial in 1:50.41 in the race before the Oaks.

“We'll see how she feels tomorrow … ,” Carolyn Costigan said. “Then we will definitely think about taking on the boys [in the Plate] … She's a horse that loves a dogfight.”

“She gives you a proper fight,” Moran said. “I think it will frighten them [Queen's Plate horses] anyway.”

Woodbine Racetrack.(L-R)groom Bob Appleby, Roan Inish and jockey David Moran, trainer Carolyn Costigan, owner Robert and Nora Costigan of Vancouver, lead Roan Inish into the winner's circle after capturing the Oaks. Michale Burns photo.

In the Oaks, the splendid U.S. filly, Embur's Song , trained by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher – who showed up at Woodbine for the race – grabbed all the attention and the betting money, going off at 2 to 5. Ridden by top U.S. jockey Garrett Gomez, Embur's Song went straight to the front early, made everyone chase her and looked to have things wrapped up with a 2 1/2-length lead at the head of the stretch.

But two other fillies had something to say about that. Moment of Majesty, owned by former National Hockey League netminder Curtis Joseph, agent Don Meehan and trainer Sue Leslie, made an impressive sweep around the field on the final turn and bore down on the favourite with every step. But so did Roan Inish, which ran between them, and inched ahead in the battle of her life to win by a head at odds of almost 12 to 1.

Moment of Majesty, at 24 to 1, finished second ahead of Embur's Song. Even in defeat, Pletcher said yesterday that he's still consider running Embur's Song in the Queen's Plate. “She seems to like the track here at Woodbine,” he said. “If we can work on getting her to relax a little bit, it's worth taking a shot.”

Moran, who is the No. 2 rider for Irish trainer Jim Bolger, came all the way from Ireland to ride Roan Inish Sunday. He's been working alongside Carolyn Costigan , who spent two years as assistant trainer for Bolger, a man, her father says, who has developed people like top Irish trainer Aiden O'Brien.

Roan Inish spent her early days in Ireland, and the Costigans brought her back to Canada for the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine last October after a roundabout trip and, after all that, won it. Roan Inish was the first horse trained by Carolyn. And Roan Inish became her first winner. It just happened to be in a major stakes race in Canada.

The Oaks win yesterday, was the largest purse ever won by Moran, who also rode the filly last October at Woodbine. He boarded a flight hours later for Ireland.

As for the colts headed for the Queen's Plate, Big Red Mike, at 8 to 1, won the Plate Trial by half a length over Mobilizer, who tried to slip up the rail. Favoured Hollinger, the top 2-year-old from last season, finished last of eight after sitting on Big Red Mike's flank most of the trip.