2020 Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (IRE) hit top form overnight at the Curragh winning the Group III Irish St Leger Trial (1m6f) in a dominant display.
The Joseph O’Brien trained son of Teofiloled for home and surged clear to win by a length and three-quarters taking his overall record to nine wins and 18 placings from 35 starts.
“He’s a good old stager. I think he’s won it when Declan (McDonogh)sent him on turning in and he got two lengths on them,” said Joseph O’Brien’s assistant trainer Brendan Powell.
“I thought Princess Zoe might pick him up, but he’s some hard horse to pass. He’s so tough. Declan said he felt great going to the start and that’s the first time since he rode him last year that he’s got that sort of feel off him. He’s shown that he’s trained on and seems like the horse of old.”
Twilight Payment holds an entry for the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
Owned by Lloyd Williams and partners, Twilight Payment is the best offspring from Dream on Buddy, a half-sister by Oasis Dream to Group II winner Banimpire.
