Order of St George Needs Strong Outing to Win Long Distance Cup
Order of St George was unable to challenge Enable at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finishing off the pace of the bay filly in fourth place in Chantilly. The five-year-old has been in great form in the 2017 season and will be desperate to end the campaign in Europe on a high note.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge has the opportunity to win a major meet at the British Champions Long Distance Cup where he will aim to notch the 11th victory of his career. Order of St George is backed in the latest horse racing betting odds at 5/4 to win the race. He finished fourth in the event last season, but he has the ability to beat out reigning champion Sheikhzayedroad to take the crown.
The five-year-old was the leading contender for Long Distance Cup last season at Ascot. However, with Ryan Moore in the saddle, he put in an underwhelming outing and was not able to challenge for the title, finishing well off the pace of Sheikhzayedroad.
Order of St George began the 2017 campaign at Navan in the Vintage Crop Stakes. His reputation made him the leading contender for the meet, but Seamie Heffernan could not get the Irish horse into a strong enough rhythm to win the race, finishing behind Torcedor.
However, he bounced back with a fine performance at the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown. Moore in the saddle timed the move of the bay colt to perfection, taking the lead two furlongs out before cantering down the final stretch to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Big Orange got the best of Order of St George in their clash at Royal Ascot in the Gold Cup. O’Brien’s charge put in a fine performance, but was beaten out by the narrowest of margins by his rival to lose out on the crown. The five-year-old needed a response and a trip to Curragh brought out the best in his form as he won Irish St Leger Trial Stakes for the second year on the bounce.
O’Brien’s charge missed out on the Irish St. Leger crown in 2016 as he was beaten out by Wicklow Grove. On this occasion, the bay colt delivered a flawless performance to secure the victory by nine lengths ahead of his nearest rival. The victory sent him into Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with momentum, and although he ran a decent race at Chantilly, no horse on the circuit could match the pace of Enable.
O’Brien will be desperate for the Irish horse to capitalise on his fine season by rounding out the year with a victory at Ascot. Two of his past conquerors are in the field, with Big Orange perhaps providing the biggest challenge given his success at the Gold Cup at Ascot earlier this year. Sheikhzayedroad won the race last season and will be aiming to join the elite company of two horses that have won the meet more than once.
Order of St George has the quality to defeat both of his rivals, but he will need to produce a dominant outing to secure the victory.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!