Order Of St George hot favourite for Irish St Leger
THE Group 1 Irish St Leger doesn’t have the appeal that the Irish Champion Stakes had overnight at Leopardstown, but it is an important race for two Melbourne Cup nominees.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of St George is still listed as “unlikely” for the 2016 Melbourne Cup due to an expected top weight and a win at Curragh on Monday morning won’t help its rating.
Bookmakers believe it’s a one-horse race and have listed the talented son of Galileo as the $1.16 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au after opening at $1.22. It has won its last six races including the Irish St Leger Trial by 1.5 lengths last start.
The last time Order Of St George wasn’t paying odds on was this time last year when it won the St Leger by 11 lengths and paid $2.25. It’s looking to go back-to-back and given its opposition, multi-bet punters should have an anchor.
On the second line of betting is the Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris which is likely to travel to Melbourne for the Cup in November. The five-year-old has had three starts since finishing fourth behind Prince Of Penzance last start which included a disappointing 14th in the Group 1 Japan Cup with Tommy Berry in the saddle.
It finished seven lengths back of the winner last start in the Lonsdale Cup and it’s form will have to improve in order to upset the favourite here.
2016 Irish St Leger day markets
1. Order Of St George – $1.16
2. Trip To Paris – $8
3. Wicklow Brave – $12
4. Silwana – $67
5. Kellstorm – $81
6. Unicorn – $51
All the money has been coming in for Order Of St George and Derek McGrath, CEO of the Curragh Racecourse, is pleased to have the world’s highest-rated stayer back to defend its title.
“We were treated to a very special performance by Order Of St George in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger last year and he returns to the Curragh as the highest-rated stayer in the world,” McGrath said. “While he represents the best of the older generation, I’m more than hopeful that both the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes will throw up two very good winners that can go on to be crowned champion two-year-olds.
“It is remarkable the number of horses that win at the Curragh in the early days of their careers that go on to dominate on the world stage.”
Aidan O’Brien also lines up the favourite for the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes where Promise To Be True is currently the $2 favourite at Sportsbet. In a field of only seven runners, O’Brien trains four entrants (Brave Anna, Hydrangea, Promise To Be True and Rhododendron), which doesn’t include the Joseph O’Brien-trained Intricately.
Promise To Be True is an unbeaten two-year-old filly which has looked impressive to date and stablemate Rhododendron has been drifting in the market since opening at $2.50.
2016 Group 1 Moyglare Stakes market:
1. Brave Anna – $21
2. Dawn Of A New Era – $51
3. Hydrangea – $10
4. Intricately – $26
5. Promise To Be True – $2
6. Rehana – $19
7. Rhododendron – $2.75
The O’Brien dominance is set to continue in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes where Churchill is the firm $1.72 favourite at Bet365.com.au, but it did open at $1.50 earlier in the week.
The winner of its last three, Churchill has experience on the big stage and with Ryan Moore in the saddle, a top run is expected.
Coming in for support has been Mehmas which opened at $4 and is now the clear second favourite at $3. The son of Acclamation has won four of its last six races, which included two second placings, and it could be the upset hope to O’Brien’s chances.
Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes betting:
1. Churchill – $1.72 at Bet365.com.au
2. Finn McCool – $26
3. Lancaster Bomber – $51
4. Lockheed – $26
5. Mehmas – $3
6. Psychedelic Funk – $13
7. Son Of Rest – $51