Trainer Aidan O'Brien had four runners. Three of the jockeys had the same
silks. It is the colour of the cap by which track commentators distinguish
one from the other. Honolulu, one of O'Brien's runners, was the favourite
at 13-8. Mahler and Mick Kinane set out on a fair gallop as the field
settled down. Honolulu, held up by John Murtagh, had one beat, and Lucarno,
the eventual winner, lay in mid-division. Mahler kicked on and was two
lengths in front as they turned for home.
With Mick Kinane yet to ask for more, Mahler was galloping freely and as
his supporters were getting ready to cheer him on, the picture changed
instantly. As Mahler hit a soft spot and stumbled about 300 metres out,
there was palpable concern. Honolulu, responding to the green signal
from jockey Murtagh, was closing with a burst. Lucarno had seen daylight
and was joining the fray. A moment or two later, the issue was settled.
Lucarno had swept past Mahler to take the lead. Honolulu, unable to
sustain his bid, was becoming a no-threat. The winning margin was a
length. Mahler held on for second and Honolulu, three parts of a length
away, took third. As a matter of fact, only 4 and one quarter lengths
separated the first eight finishers. The time was 3.19.
It was the first Classic win for jockey Jimmy Fortune who was leading
rider at Royal Ascot this year. At 7-2, Lucarno was the second betting
choice. The race was worth 303,914 pounds to the winner. It was the
231st running of the St Leger, the oldest Classic in the English racing
calendar.
Dynaformer is Lucarno's sire. Vignette, a Diesis mare, is the winning
dam. John Gosden, the successful trainer, also saddled Raincoat who was
unplaced. Gosden said, "I felt he had the class. It wasn't an ideal trip
form him but his class helped him see it through. Jimmy (Fortune) gave
him a beautiful ride."
Offering a defence for long-distance races, John Gosden explained it
this way. "Class horses win these races. We cannot lose this dimension.
In the United States, 2400 metres is considered a marathon. We do not
want to go down that path."
Jimmy Fortune was delighted. "They went a good gallop. My horse was able
to relax into it. I was confident and thought if he stayed, he would do
it. There is no question-he won like a true Group I horse."
Lucarno's record now shows four wins in eight starts. The total prize
money stands at 516,904 pounds.
The venerable Yeats was the prohibitive pick at 4-7 in the Irish Field
St Leger, run fifteen minutes later at the Curragh in Dublin, Ireland.
Nine horses went postward in the 2800-metre race. It is important to
note that the Irish St Leger is open to horses three and up.
It was a gorgeous day at the Curragh and the going was rated
'good-firm.' Kieren Fallon, riding Yeats, had the six year-old in sixth
and fifth. About 600 metres out, Yeats moved into second as Scorpion,
his stablemate, was making the running. Three hundred metres to go,
Scorpion was finding more as Yeats began his challenge. Fallon had to
gather the favourite as Yeats was not keeping a straight course. A
renewed effort brought Yeats almost on even terms as the pair continued
the duel with the line looming large. To the relief of his friends,
Yeats got the better of Scorpion in the waning yards. The margin was one
half length. It was a case of a Coronation Cup winner beating another
Coronation Cup winner. Yeats was the 2005 winner and the 2007 renewal
went to Scorpion.
The time was 3.34 and the winner earned 115,945 pounds. Yeats has now
won 10 races from 16 starts for earnings of 794,747 pounds. Yeats is by
Saddler's Wells. Lyndonville is the dam who is by Topville.
Longchamp holds critical Arc trials on Sunday. The Arc de Triomphe will
be held at the picturesque Paris racecourse on Sunday, October 7.
Curragh hosts the Champagne Stakes for freshmen. New Approach, the
unbeaten two year-old from trainer Jim Bolger's barn, is in the field.
Jim Bolger trained the 2006 top freshman, Teofilo.
Sources: Racing Post and TV reports
