In one of the biggest upsets of recent times, Order of St George was forced to surrender his Irish St Leger crown to the enterprisingly-ridden dual-purpose performer Wicklow Brave as Frankie Dettori shone on the big stage once again. A distant third behind that dominant rival in this last year, the bay who had previously recorded an impressive success for the all-conquering national hunt stable of Willie Mullins in the Cheltenham Festival's Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle was in that same spot in Ascot's G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles the following month and in two grade one hurdles during the winter. Back on the flat to be a neck second to Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Chester's G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13 furlongs May 6, the veteran was sixth re-opposing that rival in the G2 Hardwicke S. at a mile and a half at Royal Ascot June 18 before filling fourth spot in the July 28 G2 Goodwood Cup upped to two miles again. Interestingly, he had looked all over the winner of the G2 Lonsdale Cup approaching the last quarter mile only to fade into third behind Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) at York last time Aug. 19, with familiar hold-up tactics adopted once again.
Able to do things of his own accord in front under the immeasurable skill of Frankie Dettori, who partnered another of the yard's stayers Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) to win the G2 Lonsdale Cup and go so close in the G1 Melbourne Cup last year, he relished the change of ploy and travelled with renewed panache at the head of affairs. Swinging for home, he had all bar the 1-7 market leader beaten and was visually going better than Order of St George in early straight. Powering along in front, panic was soon setting in among long odds-on favourite-backers with Ryan Moore failing to get the familiar tune from the G1 Gold Cup hero as the pursuit was on. Where the new star stayer of Ballydoyle romped clear 12 months ago to leave Wicklow Brave floundering in his wake, this time it was he who was under pressure and taken out of his comfort zone and he hampered his rider's efforts by tending to hang in behind. When Moore finally got him to the leader's flanks, Wicklow Brave gave more to see him off for the shock outcome.
Dettori has enjoyed countless big moments on the international stage and this winner could be the one to avenge Max Dynamite's near miss last year in the Flemington showcase event. “I didn't expect it, but the horse was very brave and I got the fractions right,” he said. “It was Willie's idea to do that and we had our own pace in front and nicked a nice race. I didn't have that much left, but Willie's horses never stop and would take me to the line. I missed out on the Melbourne Cup and I kicked myself for that, so I've paid him back with this win.” Mullins added, “Ruby [Walsh] rode him in his last bit of work and he said there may not be anything to make the running. We have been holding him up all our lives and he often doesn't produce what it looks like he will. Frankie was fantastic, as he is always is. He rode my father's Classic winner here, Vintage Tipple [in the 2003 Irish Oaks], and I think that was his first Irish St Leger winner. Hopefully it will be the Melbourne Cup next. That has been the plan all year, as the pace and the ground will suit. I think he has improved a bit and we caught everyone on the hop a little bit today–this was a huge bonus to win. He's got to be in Newmarket for Tuesday, so he'll be travelling tomorrow.”
Wicklow Brave is a grandson of the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Cantilever, whose own second dam is the Irish 1000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Sarah Siddons (Fr) (Le Levanstell {GB}). She is in turn responsible for the Irish Oaks winner Princess Pati (Ire) (Top Ville {Ire}). The dam has unraced 3-year-old and 2-year-old fillies by Cacique (Ire) and Champs Elysees (GB) named Shipley (GB) and Dreamtide (GB) respectively, with a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB) also waiting in the wings.
Sunday, The Curragh, Ireland
PALMERSTOWN HOUSE ESTATE IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €400,000, CUR, 9-11, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:05.95, yl.
1–#@&WICKLOW BRAVE (GB), 137, g, 7, by Beat Hollow (GB)
1st Dam: Moraine (GB), by Rainbow Quest
2nd Dam: Cantilever (GB), by Sanglamore
3rd Dam: Cantanta (GB), by Top Ville (Ire)
(€11,000 Ylg '10 TATSPT; €43,000 HRA '12 TIJUN). O-Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd; B-Millsec Ltd. (GB); T-Willie Mullins; J-Frankie Dettori. €228,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Eng, 11-3-2-3, €454,896. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Order of St George (Ire), 137, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Another Storm, by Gone West. ($550,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-LLoyd J Williams, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Paget Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €76,000.
3–Trip To Paris (Ire), 137, g, 5, Champs Elysees (GB)–La Grande Zoa (Ire), by Fantastic Light. (37,000gns Wlg '11 TA11; 35,000gns RNA Ylg '12 TATOCT; 20,000gns 2yo '13 TATHIT). O-La Grange Partnership; B-Paul Monaghan & Tom Monaghan (IRE); T-Ed Dunlop. €36,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]
Margins: HF, 16, HF. Odds: 11.00, 0.14, 10.00.
Also Ran: Silwana (Ire). Scratched: Kellstorm (Ire), Unicorn (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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