After a series of incredible performances in recent weeks, Raha Mofo was all the rage heading into the final of the €6,000 GRI Galway Oaks on Friday night and she certainly didn’t disappoint as she maintained her unbeaten run in the stake with another emphatic display, writes Orla Strumble.
Marissa Molloy’s rare talent has been a breath of fresh air since arriving at Galway a fortnight ago and after breaking a 15-year track record in the opening round, Raha Mofo shaved another length off her own record as she posted some scarcely believable figures one week ago.
A 2/5 shot in the final because of her earlier exploits, the Kilkenny-based Murt Leahy-trained bitch made no mistakes last night as she comfortably dispatched a top-class field to add the GRI Galway Oaks to her Sporting Press Irish Oaks victory earlier in the year.
A five-bitch affair after the withdrawal of Newinn Nifty, who was arguably the most likely to capitalise on any possible upset, Raha Mofo had been flashing from traps at Galway and she was once again swiftly into stride wearing the striped jacket. Magical Poppy and Cashen Miska had also come away smartly from the middle and it looked all to play for approaching the opening corner with space very much at a premium.
To the roar of the crowd, however, Marissa Molly’s bitch never eased off at the opener as Raha Mofo went through the eye of a needle to emerge a two-length leader upon entrance to the back straight. Chased in second at this point by Magical Poppy, the decibel levels at Galway went up a notch midway down the back as Raha Mofo set a blistering gallop into the penultimate turn and it was here where the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Clares Queen pressed home her advantage.
Striding out majestically around the bottom two corners, Raha Mofo was home and hosed entering the home straight and she stormed across the winning line to record a famous Oaks double, three and a half lengths clear of Magical Poppy in second.
The time was a rapid 28.52.
