Supplemented for Saturday's Group 1 Irish Oaks at a cost of €40,000 after winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Star Catcher kept the ball rolling for trainer John Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori when making all the running at The Curragh.
The bold-striding daughter of Sea The Stars held the challenge of the Zoffany filly Fleeting, who also chased her home at Ascot, by half a length with the Camelot's Epsom Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood a further four and a half lengths back in third. (image Sporting Life)
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"When Frankie won on her at Royal Ascot, he said the last furlong was her best so he was determined it wouldn't be a falsely run race," Gosden told Sporting Life.
"You leave things to Frankie and his tactics today were perfect. We're very lucky to have him.
"We knew Star Catcher had really done well since the Ribblesdale. She's very progressive and can only get better.
"We'll think about the Yorkshire Oaks although we also have Coronet, Lah Ti Dar, Anapurna and maybe Enable. We'll see how Star Catcher comes out of this race before making a plan. There's also the Vermeille to consider."
It was third Irish Oaks for Gosden after Great Heavens in 2012 and Enable in 2017 and fifth for Dettori who won on Lailani (2001), Vintage Tipple (2003), Blue Bunting (2011) and Enable.
Star Catcher is one of three stakes winners out of the unraced Horse Chestnut mare Lynnwood Chase.
She had two stakes-winners by Lemon Drop Kid, the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes winner Cannock Chase at the Group II Prix Eugene Adam winner Pisco Sour.
The winner of three of her five starts, Star Catcher was reported as sold for 240,000 gns at the 2016 Tattersalls December Foal Sale but races in the colours of her breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.
Star Catcher becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for Galileo's half-brother Sea The Stars who commands a fee of €135,000 at Gilltown Stud.
