Two-time Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song has been retired following her gallant runner-up effort in the Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
A historic first Group One for @VelonMarie! Iresine reels in Search For A Song late to take the Prix Royal-Oak for trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin at @paris_longchamp! ?? pic.twitter.com/u30J47SeMc
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 23, 2022
Dermot Weld’s five-time winner looked like she might bow out with victory when taking over from long-time leader Rajinsky, travelling smoothly, as the field entered the home straight.
However, her challenge ended at the two-furlong pole when the Jean-Pierre Gauvin-trained favourite Iresine came past with a winning run and stayed on strongly to the line to back up his success in the Prix Foy and also provide jockey Marie Velon with her first Group 1 victory.
The Moyglare Stud-owned Search For A Song plugged on gamely for the silver medal and trainer Dermot Weld, who was in the French capital for the six-year-old’s swansong, was full of praise for the daughter of Galileo as the curtain came down on her on-track career.
He told Sky Sports Racing: “I’m delighted, and I’ve been honoured to train her. She’s been a wonderful mare to train and she’s done us proud. She’s won two classics, multiple Group 1-placed and she was champion staying filly in Europe two years running.
“For a six-year-old I’m so proud of her to come back and run a cracking race – full marks to the winner, he must be a very good horse.
“She’s been a very genuine, tough staying mare. The winner is rated 118 and she’s put up a wonderful performance as she always does. We’re very proud of her.”
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