Order Of St George routs rivals in Irish St Leger

Darryl Sherer - Monday September 11

Order Of St George probably put paid to a Melbourne Cup trip with a dominant performance in Sunday's Group I Irish St Leger (1m6f) at The Curragh.

Advertisement
Order Of St George. Photo: Twitter

Ryan Moore ensured the race was a proper test by pressing on as the field turned for home with four furlongs to run and the result was never in doubt, Order Of St George (2/5 fav) sailing home by nine lengths ahead of Torcedor (14/1), who had beaten Order Of St George in last year's Irish St Leger and in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April.

Melbourne Cup entry Wicklow Brave (11/1) was last early, challenged under pressure to get to second two furlongs out before weakening into fourth behind Mount Moriah (14/1).

Order Of St George was equal topweight for the 2016 Melbourne Cup with 58kg and weights for the 2017 running will be announced on Tuesday, connections signalling another tilt at Europe's premier middle distance race may take precedence over the 3200m handicap.

Aidan O'Brien trains Order Of St George for the Coolmore partners and Lloyd Williams and the trainer told the Racing Post a decision on the next race for the five-year-old would be made soon.

"Ryan kept it simple and it was a very good effort by the horse. We're delighted. We knew he'd handle the soft ground and that he had the class to deliver a performance like that," O'Brien said.

"Now we have a decision to make and it will be made quite soon. We'll think about the Melbourne Cup but we could be tempted by sending him back for another tilt at the Arc, in which he ran so well when third last year.

"He showed at Chantilly last year that he is very comfortable over a mile and a half if there is ease in the ground."

Order Of St George won the Irish St Leger by 11 lengths in 2015 and has now won 10 of his 20 starts.

CrownBet rates Order Of St George a $17 chance for the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.