Irish at Doncaster

 
Irish Trainers at Doncaster

• Irish trainers did very well over in Doncaster at its big St. Leger meeting last week with 5 winners.

• John Oxx and Aidan O’Brien both had some nice successes. Alanza [1] looked impressive in the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes. She is bred by Dubai Destination who stands at Rathbarry Stud in Co. Cork for the Cashmans. Reply [2] won the very valuable Weatherbys Insurance 2yo Stakes for Aidan O’Brien on the same day at the massive odds of 20/1.

• On the Friday Requinto [3] landed the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes for trainer David Wachman.

• John Oxx then won again, this time with Saddlers Rock [4], who stayed on well to beat the favourite Opinion Poll [5] in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup.

• On the Saturday David Marnane won the valuable Portland Handicap with Nocturnal Affair [6] which was a remarkable 5th winner for Irish trainers at Doncaster.

 
Final Flat Classic 2011

• Last weekends Irish Field St. Leger at The Curragh was the flat seasons final classic and it was a great race with Jukebox Jury [7] and Duncan [8] battling it out all the way up the straight, eventually ending in a dead heat. Connections of Jukebox Jury [7] will now aim for the Melbourne Cup while the breeder of Duncan [8] said she would retire him if he ever won a Group 1.

• Can't go without mentioning Born To Sea, who made his racecourse debut in a Listed race on the same day and he duly obliged. A lot more will be expected of him next year as he is a half brother to Sea The Stars and Galileo. It was a very encouraging start to his career and we look forward to his next run, which will be in a Group 3.