Yeats is one of all-time greats
17th September 2007
There are not many omissions in Aidan O’Brien’s glittering CV but one of the few gaps was filled at the Curragh on Saturday when Yeats (6h Sadler’s Wells-Lyndonville, by Top Ville) landed the G1 Irish St Leger under Kieren Fallon.
Yeats confirmed himself the best stayer of recent years, registering his 10th success and fourth Group 1 victory to go with the 2005 Coronation Cup at Epsom and the last two Gold Cups at Royal Ascot.
Yeats scored by half a length from his stablemate and Sadler’s Wells’ grandson Scorpion (5h Montjeu-Ardmelody, by Law Society) with another son of Sadler’s Wells, the Kevin Prendergast-trained Mores Wells (3c Sadler’s Wells-Endorsement, by Warning), in third.
John Magnier, whose wife Sue owns Yeats with joint-breeder Diane Nagle of Barronstown Stud, was on hand to welcome Yeats into the Curragh enclosure and reported that a tilt at the Melbourne Cup was a possibility.
"Melbourne is an option and nothing has been decided," said Magnier. "It’s getting near the end for Yeats, and it was really the perfect result. Aidan trained Yeats a bit differently this year and I would say he was a better horse today than he was the two previous times he ran in the race.
"Scorpion is a serious horse in his own right. He stays well and it says a lot about the two of them that they fought out the finish."
Just 24 hours earlier Sadler’s Wells had sired another top-class staying winner when the O’Brien-trained Septimus (4c Sadler’s Wells-Caladira, by Darshaan) took the G2 Doncaster Cup at Doncaster by five length.
Like Yeats, Septimus was bred jointly by David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, and the Racing Post’s analysis of the race, written by Tom O’Ryan, was full of praise for the performance.
"All eyes here were on SEPTIMUS as he bidded to confirm his potential as a top-notch stayer. Nobody could have been disappointed.... Moving up effortlessly once in line for home, he was fairly running away passing the 4f pole and, although three rivals came at him as he struck the front more than 2f out, he quickly put them in their place as he changed gear and galloped relentlessly clear to the line. Although his rounded action suggests that an ease in the ground would benefit him, he copes admirably well with a quickish surface. He has two or three remaining options open to him this season and, wherever he goes, he commands the utmost respect. As for next year, the sky could be the limit for him in Cup races."
The Melbourne Cup is also a possibility for Septimus and his jockey Johnny Murtagh reported: "Septimus is not your average stayer. He’s no plodder - he’s got class and a real turn of foot, and I was very taken with his performance.
"From a mile and a quarter down, I gave him a breather and when I picked him up he did it with some authority."