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 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 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 landed the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes for trainer David Wachman.

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

• On the Saturday David Marnane won the valuable Portland Handicap with Nocturnal Affair 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 and Duncan battling it out all the way up the straight, eventually ending in a dead heat. Connections of Jukebox Jury will now aim for the Melbourne Cup while the breeder of Duncan 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.