PALMERSTOWN HOUSE ESTATE IRISH ST LEGER (GROUP 1)

ANOTHER momentous day in the history of Ballydoyle drew to a crescendo as Order Of St George completed an Aidan O’Brien clean sweep of the three Group 1 events on day two of Champions Weekend with an impressive demolition of the field in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger.

The first-three-year-old to win this race since Vinnie Roe in 2001, Order Of St George thrust himself into the Leger reckoning with a resounding course and distance success here last month. He was actually declared for the English St Leger but on Friday it was decided to bring the well-backed 5/4 favourite to the Curragh and he rewarded that decision in some style.

A first winner of the race for Joseph O’Brien, Order Of St George was content to bide his time at the rear in a race run at a strong pace and those tactics paid dividends. The Galileo horse cruised into contention on the approach to the straight and then took over the lead from Second Step with over two furlongs to run.

Once he got to the front, Order Of St George kept up a relentless gallop that none of his rivals could even come close to matching. He eventually came home some 11 lengths clear of Agent Murphy while the County Hurdle winner Wicklow Brave finished a fine third.

Sad postscript

There was a sad postscript to the race as last year’s winner Brown Panther had to be put down as a result of a hind leg injury he sustained with over six furlongs to run.

“He handles an ease in the ground and he quickened up very well. It’s unusual to get a horse like him who stays so well and yet has so much class,” commented Aidan O’Brien who last won this race with Septimus in 2008. “Joseph felt that they were going hard enough up front and put him to sleep at the back of the field and the race worked out well for him.

“We could now look at the two-mile race at Ascot next month for him. The Arc is there and the plan is for Found to go there but I wouldn’t rule it in or out for this horse. In terms of next year he looks a Cup horse.”

Willie Mullins indicated that Wicklow Brave could try his hand in another quality staying race this autumn and the Prix du Cadran and the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup could figure on his agenda in the coming weeks.