Cheltenham G2 1-2 for Oscar

15th March 2008

The ultra-game Whiteoak (5m Oscar-Gayla Orchestra by Lord Gayle) battled against another daughter of Oscar, the G1 winner Refinement (9m Oscar-Maneree, by Mandalus) to win a highly competitive first running of the G2 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on the final day of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival.

Whiteoak, who was bred by Frank Barry, was headed by Refinement in the final strides of the two and a half mile contest but battled back to score by a short-head to the delight of her trainer Donald McCain junior.

"I’ve always thought a lot of her and she probably got there too soon because she just does enough in front, although today she got there and went again," said McCain. "I thought Refinement was going to hold on and would have been a little disappointed if she had but Whiteoak was unbelievable and came again.

"Her form was there for all to see and if I’d done my job properly she’d be unbeaten this season."

Whiteoak was bought by the winning trainer’s father Ginger McCain for 25,000 euros at the 2006 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.