G1 Triple for Coolmore, O'Brien in Ireland
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Order of St George capped a group I triple for Coolmore and associates Sept. 13 at the Curragh in winning the Irish St. Leger (Ire-I), but the race was marred by the fatal breakdown of last year's winner Brown Panther.
Order of St George, scratched from the English equivalent the previous day at Doncaster, was the only 3-year-old in the field of 11 but was sent off the 5-4 favorite. The son of Galileo moved to the front just more than 2 1/2 furlongs out before powering clear to win by 11 lengths.
Jockey Joseph O'Brien settled Order of St George at the back of the field as last year's winner Brown Panther tracked pacesetter Good Tradition from second. But Brown Panther was abruptly pulled up halfway through the race by Richard Kingscote, having suffered a compound fracture of a hind leg.
"There were three vets with him within seconds and he was put down, as unfortunately he just couldn't be saved," said Curragh general manager Paul Hensey.
Brown Panther's breeder and co-owner Michael Owen said in a statement that Sunday was the saddest day of his life.
"The toughest, most honest, most brilliant horse I will ever set eyes on passed away today doing the thing he loved most," he said of the 7-year-old son of Shirocco, who earlier this year won the Dubai Gold Cup (UAE-I) at Meydan for trainer Tom Dascombe.
"I was with him when he was born, shared an experience for seven years that will never be repeated and gave him his last kiss goodbye. What an honor to own and breed him. I love you Panther. Life will not be the same without you."
Brian Meehan-trained Agent Murphy and Willie Mullins' Wicklow Brave finished second and third, respectively.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said Order of St George traveled strongly throughout the 1 3/4-mile race before finishing in 3:03.19 on turf rated as good.
"When Joseph said go, he quickened up very well. It's unusual for a horse that stays that well to have that kind of class," Aidan O'Brien said. "He's a very exciting horse. We may have a look at the two-mile race at Ascot (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup on Oct. 17) with him."
Order of St George is out of the winning Gone West mare Another Storm, a daughter of U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Storm Song. He is a half brother to grade III or group III winners Angel Terrace and Asperity. He was bred in Ireland by Paget Bloodstock.
Aidan O'Brien trained two other top-level winners on Sunday's card, sending out Minding in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) for 2-year-old fillies and Air Force Blue in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-I) for 2-year-old colts.
Minding, a daughter of Galileo, led in a 1-2-3 finish for Coolmore partners and the trainer, wining by three-quarters of a length while finishing the seven-furlong race in 1:28.46. Stablemates Ballydoyle and Alice Springs were second and third, respectively.
Minding posted her first stakes win and came in off a runner-up finish to Ballydoyle in the Debutante Stakes (Ire-I) Aug. 22 at the Curragh. Her dam is English/Irish group I winner Lillie Langtry, by Danehill Dancer.
Air Force Blue, bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, landed the National Stakes for his second win at the highest level. The War Front colt solidified his position as the clear early favorite for next year's Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) with a three-length success. Herald the Dawn was second and Brichwood was third.
Sent off the 10-11 favorite, Air Force Blue bounded away from his five rivals in the closing stages before finishing seven furlongs in 1:29.89. He entered off a victory in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) Aug. 9 at the Curragh and was second in the Coventry Stakes (Eng-II) in June at Royal Ascot.
Coolmore's M.V. Magnier bought the colt, who is out of the stakes-placed Maria's Mon mare Chatham, from Stone Farm for $490,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale. He is from the family of U.S. champions Flanders and Surfside.