Epsom Oaks: Talent beats Secret Gesture for Ralph Beckett one-two

Talent struck late on to beat Secret Gesture and secure an Oaks one-two for trainer Ralph Beckett in the fillies' classic at Epsom.

The 20-1 shot, ridden by Richard Hughes, swooped inside the final furlong to beat her better fancied 3-1 stablemate by nearly four lengths.

The Michael Bell-trained The Lark (16-1) was third, with Aidan O'Brien's 5-2 favourite Moth fourth.

"I rode her work during the week and wasn't impressed," said Hughes.

"I came home and said, 'she's skinnier than me'."

Miss You Too set the pace until past Tattenham Corner as the field behind readied themselves for attack.

Lingfield Oaks trial winner Secret Gesture, ridden by Jim Crowley, made the first move on the rails from two furlongs out, with Moth also coming to the fore.

But Joseph O'Brien's mount was unable to quicken further and Talent came at pace from the outside to land the spoils.

Hughes, who won his first domestic Classic aboard Sky Lantern in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, was stunned with Talent.

"Tom Queally (on Madame Defarge) was extremely good to me coming down the hill as I edged him out," he said.

"I just said to him turning for home, 'Can you believe how well I'm going?'

"I'd say on better ground she'll be better."

Beckett was saddling his second Oaks winner following the triumph of Look Here in 2008.

He said: "Richard came to ride her work and I knew by the look on his face he thought, 'I don't fancy this much'.

"I wasn't watching her until she loomed up on the outside - she's very tough. What a day."

The Oaks

1 Talent (R Hughes) 20-1

2 Secret Gesture (J Crowley) 3-1

3 The Lark (J Spencer) 5-2

11 ran