By Tom Frary
Building on a return second in the G3 Vintage Crop S. over this trip at Navan Apr. 23, last year's G1 Gold Cup hero Order of St George was able to enjoy a straightforward success in this final stepping stone to the defence of his crown at Royal Ascot June 22. Settled fourth of the five early by Ryan Moore, the bay who started his stellar 2016 campaign with a win in this race was sent wide to collar Twilight Payment approaching the furlong pole and was kept up to his work to assert. Aidan O'Brien expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We were very happy with him, he settled lovely and galloped all the way to the line,” he said. “You would have to be delighted with that, and he couldn't really have done any more. Sometimes it can be a little bit close, but it's a lovely race for the Gold Cup. Ryan said he was fine on the ground. He handles soft ground, but the ground here is beautiful. When he goes up in trip they will be going that bit easier. Obviously if everything is well we will look at Ascot next and he could follow a similar path to last year.” Order of St George appeared a more relaxed character than on some occasions here, suggesting that he needs a marathon trip now despite his excellent third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. The dam, a daughter of the champion Storm Song, has a 2-year-old colt by Declaration of War named Shakour (Ire) and a yearling colt by Australia (GB).
SEAMUS & ROSEMARY MCGRATH MEMORIAL SAVAL BEG S.-Listed, €50,000, LEO, 5-26, 4yo/up, 14fT, 3:03.28, g/f.
1–ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE), 138, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)—Another Storm, by Gone West. ($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. €29,500. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 14f+, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 14f+, Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 14f+, G1SW-Ire & Eng, G1SP-Fr, 17-8-5-1, $1,527,653. *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.[bullet ad=”blandford-stud-sold-by-for-paget”]2–Twilight Payment (Ire), 134, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Dream On Buddy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Godolphin. €9,500.
3–Motherland (Ire), 131, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Pipalong (Ire), by Pips Pride (GB). O-Annus Mirabilis Syndicate. €4,500.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3 3/4, NO. Odds: 0.35, 4.00, 8.00. Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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