Tapestry upsets previously unbeaten Taghrooda in Yorkshire Oaks

Tapestry, who lost four consecutive Group 1 races from last September to July, rallied from last to beat 1-5 favorite Taghrooda in Thursday’s $545,000 Yorkshire Oaks for fillies and mares at York Racecourse in England.

While Tapestry (8-1) won her first Group 1 race in the Yorkshire Oaks, the race was the first career defeat for the 3-year-old Taghrooda, who beat males in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in July. Taghrooda won her first four starts, including the English Oaks in June.

Tapestry, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was ridden by Ryan Moore in the Yorkshire Oaks, which was run over 1 1/2 miles. Moore had Tapestry last of seven before moving closer to the leaders with three furlongs remaining. Tapestry was second behind Taghrooda with a furlong to go, took the lead in the final sixteenth, and prevailed by a half-length.

Taghrooda finished seven lengths clear of third-place finishers Tasaday.

Tapestry, by Galileo, races for the partnership of Flaxman Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. The filly has won 3 of 7 starts, but the Yorkshire Oaks was her first win since the Group 2 Debutante Stakes in Ireland in August 2013.

Tapestry was later second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland last September. Earlier this year, she was last of 17 as the 4-1 favorite in English 1000 Guineas in May, sixth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20, and second in the Irish Oaks on July 17.