Aidan O'Brien eyeing Arc with dual Irish St Leger hero Order Of St George

Order Of St George could be in line for a second tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after regaining his crown with a brilliant display in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

Order Of St George Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Aidan O'Brien's charge was an 11-length winner of the one-mile-six-furlong Classic in 2015, but suffered a shock reverse at the hands of Wicklow Brave when a 1-7 favourite 12 months ago.

He did bounce back to finish an excellent third behind stablemate Found in the Arc, however, and a return to Chantilly or a bid for Melbourne Cup glory appear his two main options for the autumn following his latest Curragh romp.

O'Brien said: "He's an unbelievable horse. He has class - you saw what he did in the Arc last year, he handles all grounds and he can stay as far as two and a half miles.

"He has the choice of returning for the Arc this year or going to the Melbourne Cup. We'll think about that and the lads will decide.

"I suppose the Arc might be the favoured option, but we'll see. He'd be very comfortable over a mile and a half if there is an ease in the ground at Chantilly."

Order Of St George came within a short head of claiming back-to-back renewals of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, going down after a thrilling tussle with Big Orange, but having regained winning ways in last month's Irish Leger Trial, he was the 2-5 market leader to secure a 10th career success.

With last year's defeat perhaps in his mind, Ryan Moore took the bull by the horns and sent Order Of St George to the front rounding the home turn.

It was a move his opponents were unable to match, with the five-year-old galloping on relentlessly to score by nine lengths.

"I'm delighted with him. We know he stays and handles soft ground. He went there strong today," O'Brien continued.

"Ryan let him relax. He moved him up a little bit and he locked on to him. He just said he kicked into gear and he didn't want to disappoint him then."

Moore was just as impressed, adding: "He's a brilliant horse. He has an awful lot of ability and was able to express that today."


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