The field for the 1996 Epsom Oaks was not a strong one, with the Rockfel Stakes winner Bint Salsabil being the only one of the eleven fillies to have won at Group race level. The best filly of the season, Bosra Sham (also owned by Saïd and trained by Cecil), was rested during the summer after winning the 1000 Guineas. Lady Carla was made 100/30 second favourite behind Pricket, the representative of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation. Pricket had been trained by Henry Cecil before until Sheikh Mohammed had withdrawn all his horses from the Warren Place stable the previous autumn. Pat Eddery positioned Lady Carla among the leaders from the start and turned into the straight in second place behind Moody's Cat. Two furlongs from the finish, Lady Carla took the lead and accelerated clear of the field, winning by nine lengths from Pricket, with Mezzogiorno half a length back in third. The winning distance was the fourth longest of the century, after those of Sun Princess (twelve lengths in 1983), Noblesse (ten lengths in 1963) and Jet Ski Lady (ten lengths in 1991). Only five fillies appeared to oppose Lady Carla in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July, and she started at odds of 1/2 to maintain her unbeaten record. The build-up to the race was marked by controversy, with Cecil angrily denying claims from the television pundit John McCririck that the filly had developed a serious respiratory condition. In the race, Eddery attempted to lead from the start, but when Lady Carla was challenged in the straight she failed to respond and was soon beaten. She finished fourth behind the Dermot Weld-trained Dance Design, beaten by four and a half lengths.
