Weld's Voleuse De Coeurs Wins Irish St. Leger
Description:
Lady O’Reilly’s staying filly Voleuse De Coeurs trounced a field of accomplished runners in the GAIN Irish St. Leger (Ire-I) Sept. 15 at the Curragh.
The 4-year-old by Darley sire Teofilo provided trainer Dermot Weld a seventh win in the Irish classic as she led a procession across the finish line in a comfortable six-length win over 7-2 favorite Ahzeemah. Saddler's Rock finished a head back in third. Well-traveled Red Cadeaux took fourth in the closing stages.
Royal Diamond, winner of last year’s edition of the Irish St. Leger, attempted to make all the running after the opening furlong but was overtaken three-eighths out and finished fifth.
Voleuse De Coeurs relaxed in sixth under Chris Hayes midway through the 1 3/4-mile race and seized command a quarter mile out before she was geared down nearing the finish line to win at 9-1 odds.
The winner, who entered off a close runner-up finish to Royal Diamond in the GAIN Irish St. Leger Trial Ballycullen Stakes (Ire-II) Aug. 24, was timed in 3:08 on turf rated as good. She posted her first group win and fifth overall from seven lifetime starts. She won the Vintage Crop Stakes in May at Navan and posted a 10-length romp in the 2012 Cesarewitch Handicap at the Irish St. Leger distance at the Curragh.
“She did it very easily and she definitely likes the Curragh and this time of year,” Lady O’Reilly said. “I think she can rest on her laurels now and maybe go to stud.”
Weld, however, has other ideas about the filly’s future.
“She’s a smart filly and a model of consistency,” he said after the race. “She ran a cracking trial behind Royal Diamond and I knew she would improve for that.
“She’s a joy to train and is very straightforward. I’ve been very fortunate to win Legers with Vinnie Roe (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004) and Vintage Crop (1993 and 1994). She’s a high-class mare and I will try and encourage Lady O’Reilly to keep her in training as I think she will be a high-class Cup mare at five.”
Bred by Irish National Stud, Voleuse De Coueurs is out of the Grand Lodge mare Vadorga. Second dam Vadsa Honor is a half sister to multiple French group I winner Vahorimix.
Voleuse De Coueurs is the second classic winner this season for Teofilo, joining Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-I) winner Trading Leather.
Weld bought Voleuse De Coueurs for $40,413 at the 2010 Goffs Orby yearling sale on behalf of Lady O’Reilly’s Skymarc Farm.