Proper Order at the Curragh
ORDER Of St George could be in line for a second tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after regaining his crown with a brilliant display in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh yesterday.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge was an 11-length winner of the one-mile, six-furlong Classic in 2015, but suffered a shock reverse at the hands of Wicklow Brave when a 1-7 favourite 12 months ago.
He did bounce back to finish an excellent third behind stablemate Found in the Arc, however, and either a return to Chantilly or a bid for Melbourne Cup glory appear his two main options following his latest Curragh romp.
O’Brien said: ‘He’s an unbelievable horse. He has class; you saw what he did in the Arc last year, he handles all grounds and he can stay as far as two-and-ahalf miles. He has the choice of returning for the Arc this year or going to the Melbourne Cup. We’ll think about that and the lads will decide.
‘I suppose the Arc might be the favoured option, but we’ll see. He’d be very comfortable over a mile-and-ahalf if there is an ease in the ground at Chantilly.’
Earlier, in the Moyglare Stakes, Happily led home a one-two-three for O’Brien.
It was a record eighth victory in the Group 1 event for the Ballydoyle handler.
Ryan Moore, initially set to ride Clemmie, decided to jump on Magical, an unsurprising choice given she had beaten Happily into second and another O’Brien runner September into fourth when winning the Debutante Stakes three weeks ago.
It looked as though he had chosen correctly when Magical kicked clear, but 13-2 shot Happily finished best to score by a shorthead in the hands of the trainer’s son, Donnacha.
September was almost four lengths behind her stablemates in third.
The Jessica Harringtontrained 2-1 favourite Alpha Centauri was only fifth.
Jim Bolger was the trainer in the winner’s enclosure after the day’s other Group One, the National Stakes, and he hailed winner Verbal Dexterity as ‘the complete package’ following his dominant display.
The master of Glebe House has won just about every big race going over the years, including this Group One event three times with top-class juveniles Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007) and Dawn Approach (2012).
Bolger is not a man of many words, but struggled to contain his enthusiasm following Verbal Dexterity’s scintillating performance, rating him at least on a par with any two-year-old he has trained.
‘I can see him as being champion European twoyear-old. He’s the real deal. He’s as good as any of the two-year-olds I’ve had,’ said Bolger.