2013

IT looked one of the most open renewals of the Gain Irish St Leger for some time, but instead the final classic of the domestic campaign was turned into nothing short of a rout, as Dermot Weld’s Voleuse De Coeurs ran out an utterly dominant winner at the Curragh.

The Lady O’Reilly-owned daughter of Teofilo was giving the trainer his seventh win in this race - he now lies just two behind Vincent O’Brien’s record tally of nine - some 20 years after he first won it with Vintage Crop.

Meanwhile, this marked the culmination of an extraordinary period for jockey Chris Hayes, who recorded his first victory at the highest level only eight days previously when La Collina claimed the Matron Stakes.

Wide margin wins in a Galway handicap and the Irish Cesarewitch last season served notice that Voleuse De Coeurs had what it took to make a mark in the upper reaches of the staying division this season.

After winning the Vintage Crop Stakes in May, the four-year-old ran well to chase home Royal Diamond in a trial for this race last month. However, she took her form to an entirely new level here by demolishing a field that included the likes of Royal Diamond and a pair of strong English raiders in Ahzeemah and Red Cadeaux.

Indeed the race was as good as over from an early point in the straight as Voleuse De Coeurs loomed up menacingly on the outside of the leaders nearing the turn in, before striking the front three furlongs from home. She then stormed clear of the field and maintained an unfaltering gallop all the way to the line to finish some six lengths clear of Ahzeemah. Saddler’s Rock showed signs of returning to form by finishing a head back in third, while Red Cadeaux took fourth.

“She’s a tough, consistent and genuine filly, and I thought that she had put up some very good performances throughout the year,” said Weld.

“Pat [Smullen] sided with Pale Mimosa as he felt that she had a bit more pace, but she was coming back off a break and needed the run [finished seventh], and today was Voleuse De Coeurs’ day,” Weld added.

Cracking trial

“She ran a cracking trial for this race here last month, and I thought that she had improved from that run, and the little ease in the ground suited her. I’ll have to speak with Lady O’Reilly, but I’d imagine that will be it for the season. I’ll certainly be advising Lady O’Reilly to keep her in training, as I believe that she will make up into a high class cup mare next season.”

[In fact, Voleuse De Coeurs was sold to Australian interests, transferred to the stables of Michael Moroney, and she finished eight lengths behind Fiorente in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup. She was less than three lengths off the same horse when fifth in the Group 1 Australian Cup the following March. She then returned to Europe and since 2015 has visited the likes of Sea The Stars, Dubawi, National Defense, Oasis Dream, Too Darn Hot, and Cracksman.

Her first foal, Late Romance (Dubawi) sold for 500,000gns and ran once, unplaced, at two. Arun River (Dubawi) also ran once, unplaced, having sold for 200,000gns as a yearling. Another Beautiful (National Defense) has been placed twice at three this year, both her starts, and she holds an entry at Kempton Park on Monday.

Ozark Daze (Oasis Dream) is the two-year-old colt out of the classic winner, and he sold to Andy Oliver last year for 25,000gns. He has yet to start. The yearling colt by Too Darn Hot out of Voleuse De Coeurs is Lot 811 in Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale next month, while this year the mare had a filly by Cracksman]

Irish St Leger goes to Stuart Murless

1958

THE attendances at the two-day Curragh fixture on Wednesday and Thursday last were on the small side, particularly on the second afternoon, but this was only to be expected. The last of the season’s classic races, the Irish St Leger, attracted only six runners, and there seems to be no doubt that the general public prefer quantity rather than quality.

However, the big race of the fixture provided quite an interesting struggle between the big two, Royal Highway and Sindon, victory going to the former by two lengths. Royal Highway, who cost only 120gns as a yearling, has proved himself a rare money spinner for owner Mrs W. Macauley and trainer Stuart Murless, who is having his best season ever and is now head of the trainers’ list.

It was a first classic win for Murless and jockey Nicky Brennan, who rode such a good race on Royal Highway. This was Brennan’s 30th win of the year, which is his best total in one season to date.

The Anglesey Stakes, worth over £1,400 to the winning owner, was the chief event on Thursday’s programme, and this coveted juvenile prize went to Miss E.B.C. Laidlaw’s filly Sauchrie, trained by John Oxx and ridden by John Power.

[The Hon Diana Macauley’s Royal Highway went on to become an influential stallion, while ‘Stu’ Murless, brother of the leading British trainer Sir Noel, enjoyed further classic success in France and Ireland with such as Sicilian Prince, Pampapaul and Nocturnal Spree, while he also trained Deep Run. He and Royal Highway’s owner died within a day of each other.

Nicky Brennan died by drowning at the age of 50. One of the best lightweight riders of his time, he had further classic success with Green Banner in the Irish 2000 Guineas for Bert and Kevin Kerr. After his finished riding, he trained for a time on the Curragh]

Unfair criticism of the Irish Sweeps

AGAIN and again in this column have we had to call attention to the unfair manner in which the Irish Sweeps have been attacked from outside. And again and again we have been forced to wonder whether the words fair play may not be merely a meaningless phrase to some minds.

So far as we can see, the chief grievance against the sweeps of the Irish Hospitals’ Trust lies in the fact that they are so annoyingly, so extraordinarily successful. Because they are so well managed, so manifestly straight and above board, they do not leave a loophole for genuine criticism.

No doubt much of the money for them comes from England. But, no doubt, also a great amount of it returns back again. So much so is this the case that it is quite a common thing for Irish people living in Ireland to purchase sweep tickets through friends in England, believing thereby that by so doing they stand a greater chance of success.

Hostile critics

Until the sale of tickets can be stopped for good and all in England, hostile critics like the Duke of Athol will have to fume and rage, and look for a scapegoat on whom to vent their displeasure. But how can the sale be prevented? That appears to be an unanswerable riddle.

You know quite well, and so does the Duke, that it cannot be done until the people accomplish it of their own accord by giving up buying them. This appears to be the only solution to the problem, and as long as English men and women retain their common humanity, so long will they grasp every chance of drawing a prize in fortune’s pool, and not be a bit down-hearted if they fail.