ORDER Of St George warmed up for some big targets this autumn in striking style as he dominated the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes.
A winner of this Group 3 contest for the last two years, this season’s Gold Cup second returned from a mid-season break for a good edition of the race. Last year’s Irish St Leger hero Wicklow Brave was lying in wait as was the Curagh Cup scorer Rekindling and the in-form Renneti.
However, Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer was in a different league to his rivals.
The 1/2 favourite raced at his leisure under Ryan Moore and it was all looking quite ominous for his rivals from the turn-in.
With well over a furlong to run, Order Of St George swept by Twilight Payment to strike the front and he maintained an unfaltering tempo to score by four and three-quarter lengths from the staying-on Rekindling.
“It was nice ground (yielding) which helped him, the race suited him well,” said Moore.
“It was a good race but he is a very high-class horse – he was third in the Arc last year – and he’s done that very well.”
After showing up well against some quality fillies on her first three outings, the Tony Mullins-trained Punked (8/1) notched up a deserved triumph in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.
This daughter of So You Think, who is owned and bred by Meath-based Danny Coogan, had contested races won by Happily, Ballet Shoes and Muirin over the last six weeks and had shown definite promise in each of those runs.
Here Punked set off in front for Rory Cleary and she never saw another rival. When the 8/1 chance shook off Erin entering the last quarter of a mile she was left with a decent advantage and she came home three and a half lengths ahead of Liquid Amber.
“I fancied her the last day and she was beaten and I thought the same might happen today but she’s tough and stays well,” reported Mullins. “We’ll step her up in class now and see can we get some blacktype.”
The well-backed Ger Lyons newcomer Would You Believe, who was 8/1 in the morning before being returned at 4/1, rewarded his supporters when getting up late on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs. The Vincent Gaul-owned juvenile was kept close to the pace for Colin Keane and then finished with a flourish against the stands’ side rail to edge out Kion by a head.
“Colin had this horse as a breeze-up and he had previously sold Reckless Endeavour to Vincent so he brought him up to us one day and he never went home,” declared Shane Lyons.
“This horse would handle both better and slightly worse ground and there will be plenty of improvement to come from him.”
HIGHER LEVEL
Bill Farrell could have a lot to look forward to with Xenobia who returned from two months off to land the Paddy Power Acca Insurance Handicap and could soon hold her own at a higher level. On her first outing since winning a Leopardstown maiden, the Paolo Neri-owned daughter of Falco was a well-backed 4/1 favourite under Chris Hayes.
Xenobia led the main group as An Saighdiur blazed a trail up front and it was only inside the last furlong that she led. She had more to spare than the winning margin of three-quarters of a length would suggest and there are good races to be won with her.
“She’s 16.3hh and we gave her time to grow into herself after her maiden win and today was a step-up for her,” commented Farrell.
“My son Samuel has done an excellent job with her and she will be a very nice filly next year. I think we’re entitled to consider a listed race for her now.”
Earlier, the Chris Hayes-ridden My Silver Nails sprung a 14/1 surprise in the Paddy Power Onside App Nursery over six furlongs. This filly is the first winner sired by the classy juvenile Tough As Nails so it was entirely fitting that Mick Mulvany and his father, Larry, who campaigned that horse, should supply him with his initial winner as a stallion.
Interestingly, Hayes opted to plough a lone furrow up the centre of the track on the experienced filly while the other five contestants stuck to the stands’ side rail. When My Silver Nails came back to rejoin the others with over a furlong to run, she was still in front and she kept on well for a clear-cut success over the top-weight Golden Spell.
“She deserved her win. That’s her ninth run and she’s been very consistent,” commented Mick Mulvany.
“I was fancying her a bit to turn the form around with Golden Spell from Bellewstown as she had to give us plenty of weight today. Hopefully its onwards and upwards from here.”
SCHOOL
Cian MacRedmond (16), whose father Mark is a veterinary surgeon in the Curragh-based Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital, made his first ride a winning one on Sweetest Taboo (6/1) in the Paddy Power-sponsored five-furlong handicap.
Almost three years after her last win, the consistent daughter of Camacho made most of the running for a one-length victory over Polly Douglas.
“It’s great for Cian who has been riding out for me since he was 13. He’s going back to school next week and he’s tall so I wanted to give him a few rides before he gets too big,” declared owner-trainer Willie McCreery.
Voge’s (6/1) abortive outing at this track the previous week was banished as her whirlwind finish enabled her to claim a last gasp victory in the Paddy Power Betting Shops Maiden over five furlongs.
Last time out the Wood Hall Stud-owned daughter of Clodovil unshipped Oisin Orr early on but this time and she charged home over the last furlong to deny Realt Rua by a neck.
“It was just unfortunate the last time, she was wearing a stalls blanket and the saddle cloth actually slipped back on when she jumped which gave her a fright. Thankfully she’s won today,” reflected Lynam.
“She’s a half-sister to Steps and will be a nice filly to breed from but we’ll try and win another one now.”
ACTING STEWARDS
N.B. Wachamn, L. McFerran, J. Murphy, J. Rearden, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
AKUA (E. Lynam): This filly made a bright start to her career when finishing sixth to Would You Believe. She can soon register the first success of her career.