By Tom Frary
Losing his G1 Gold Cup title by a short head to Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) at Royal Ascot June 22, Order of St George returned to home soil in the kind of mood that has seen him gain such prominence in his career to dominate this trial for the Sept. 10 G1 Irish St Leger. That was another race he had previously dominated when a 3-year-old and a crown he also had to surrender last year as Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) refused to let him past. That rival was in this contest too and as he loomed to the favourite at the top of the straight it looked as if they could resume battle as they had in September. Order of St George, who had been roused from the break by Ryan Moore to gain a prominent position in third, gave generously when committed passing the quarter pole and drew clear powerfully with the 3-year-old G2 Curragh Cup winner Rekindling putting up the most meaningful pursuit. “He's a high-class horse and the race suited him well, so hopefully he can keep going forward from here,” jockey Ryan Moore commented. “He likes that nice ground and it helps him, but he was third on fast ground in the Arc.”
The dam, who also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Declaration of War named Shakour (Ire) and a yearling colt by Australia (GB), produced the GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. winner Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper) and the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac scorer Asperity (War Chant). She is out of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and GI Frizette S. heroine Storm Song, herself a half-sister to the GII Oak Leaf S. winner Diamond Omi (Giant's Causeway) and the dam of the GI Wood Memorial runner-up Trojan Nation (Street Cry {Ire}). Her descendants include the G2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora S. winner Midsummer Fair (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}) and the Singapore champion Better Life (Aus) (Smarty Jones), while under the third dam Hum Along is the GIII Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup S.-winning sire High Cotton.
Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER TRIAL S.-G3, €63,000, CUR, 8-19, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:05.44, yl.
1–ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE), 134, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Another Storm, by Gone West
2nd Dam: Storm Song, by Summer Squall
3rd Dam: Hum Along, by Fappiano
($550,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & LLoyd J Williams; B-Paget Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €37,170. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, G1SW-Ire & Eng, G1SP-Fr, 19-9-6-1, $1,680,360. *1/2 to Asperity (War Chant), GSW-Fr & GSP-Eng, $245,483; Angel Terrace (Ghostzapper), GSW-US, $298,848; and Sehoy (Menifee), SW-Swe, $144,199. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rekindling (GB), 129, c, 3, High Chaparral (Ire)–Sitara (GB), by Salse. (60,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA). O-LLoyd J Williams; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €12,600.
3–Twilight Payment (Ire), 134, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Dream On Buddy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Godolphin; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). €6,300.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2HF, HF. Odds: 0.50, 6.50, 20.00.
Also Ran: Wicklow Brave (GB), Renneti (Fr), Aussie Reigns (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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