COMER GROUP IRISH

ST. LEGER (GROUP 1)

IN an outcome that was as straightforward as the betting suggested Order Of St George bounced back from last year’s shock defeat to bag the Irish St Leger in especially dominant fashion.

Last year the versatile and hugely talented son of Galileo was turned over at odds of 1/7 by Wicklow Brave but there was to be no such repeat this time around. Indeed this victory was altogether reminiscent of 2015 when Aidan O’Brien’s charge routed his rivals by 11 lengths and his connections now have the enviable choice of heading for another go at the Arc de Triomphe or instead journeying to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

Order Of St George’s smooth victory in a trial for this race last month looked to be put him on a different footing to the rest of his rivals. Furthermore, soft ground only served to heighten his overwhelming superiority as he became the first horse in the race’s history to win back his crown.

It all began to look quite ominous for his rivals when the 2/5 favourite was driven to the front by Ryan Moore at the top of the straight. As soon as the five-year-old went to the front the race turned into a one-sided affair. Over the last quarter of a mile the 2016 Gold Cup winner, who was led up by Sumith Pathrannelage, maintained a relentless tempo which saw him pull nine lengths clear of Torcedor, with minor honours going to Ralph Beckett’s Mount Moriah.

INCREDIBLE

“He’s an incredible horse. He has the class to be placed in an Arc, he’s won over two and a half miles and he handles that ease in the ground very well. Ryan gave him a great ride,” said O’Brien. “He was strong today and Ryan said that when he asked him to move forward he just locked on to the bridle and took him there and once he got to the front Ryan wasn’t going to disappoint him.

“His next run will either by the Arc de Triomphe or the Melbourne Cup and he would be very comfortable over a mile and a half if we got some ease in the ground in Chantilly.”

Moore also paid generous tribute to his mount: “He’s a brilliant horse with an awful lot of ability. He’s professional and he’s been around the block a few times now and he found it all very straightforward today.”