ALL SAINTS DAY
O’Brien seals Leger double in fine style
ORDER Of St George crowned a mightily- successful weekend for Aidan O’Brien with a runaway victory in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh.
Successful in the world’s oldest Classic, the English St Leger at Doncaster with Bondi Beach on Saturday, O’Brien’s decision to switch Order Of St George from the English venue because of more suitable ground in Irel and was duly vindicated.
Joseph O’Brien was content to have Order Of St George at the rear of field as Good Tradition made the running in the early stages from last year’s winner Brown Panther.
However, the l atter was pulled up at around half-way with what tragically proved a fatal injury, leaving Dermot Weld’s Forgotten Rules, stablemate of Good Tradition, to track the leader.
Once in the straight, the race changed complexion and the well- backed Order Of St George (5-4 fav) swept into the l ead two furlongs out and sealed the issue in strides.
He went on to win unchallenged by 11 lengths from the Brian Meehan-trained Agent Murphy, with Willie Mullins’ Wicklow Brave third.
O’Brien, completing a hattrick of Group One races on the card after wins in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and National Stakes, said: ‘He was very impressive here the last day (in the Irish St Leger Trial).
‘ I didn’t say anything to Joseph, but they went hard up front and he put him asleep. He sneaked through lovely and is a very good stayer.
‘He got the trip really well and travelled very strongly. When Joseph said go he quickened up very well.
‘It’s unusual for a horse that stays that well to have that kind of class. He’s a very exciting horse.
‘We may have a look at the two-mile race at Ascot (Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup on October 17) with him.
‘He’s a free sweater and if he didn’t do t hat you’d be worried.’
The jockey, winning the Irish Leger for the first time, said: ‘He handled the ground and stayed well. He improved a lot for his second start and was really good today. He’s an exciting horse.’ FORMER England footballer Michael Owen described the fatal injury suffered by Brown Panther in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the Curragh as ‘the saddest day of my life’.
The Tom Dascombe-trained seven-year-old, who was bred and part-owned by Owen, was second when suddenly pulled up by jockey Richard Kingscote at around halfway. It emerged he had suffered a broken hind leg and was put down.