Alandi battles gamely to land Leger

The Irish Field St Leger turned into a war of attrition in the final furlong as Alandi ground his way to success in the final classic of the year at the Curragh. Schiaparelli set a good pace up front in the Group 1 and looked to be in control two furlongs from home.

Alandi stayed on gamely to get on terms at the furlong pole while Clowance also came with a charge on the outer.

Schiaparellil cried enough in the final 150 yards and Alandi and Clowance fought out a gruelling finish with the Aga Khan runner benefitting from a vintage Mick Kinane ride to prevail by half a length. Yeats (7/2 to 4/1), who was easy to back, proved a major disappointment in the testing conditions - coming under pressure over half a mile out and dropping away tamely to finish last.

John Oxx missed the victory as he was on duty in Doncaster as Mourayan finished an unlucky fifth in the English St Leger.

"It was a real good performance - he's a tough horse," assistant trainer Jimmy O'Neill.

"They went unbelievably fast early on - a hell of a gallop. He was taking his time wearing down Schiaparelli and the filly coming upsides helped.

"If he runs again this year it would be the Prix de Cadran."

Kinane said: "I was very hopeful today as he won really well last time.

"The only times he has been beaten was once because of the ground, and the other couple of times I blamed myself.

"It was a real slog and he had to be very tough."

The Aga Khan's stud manager Pat Downes said: "It was a masterful ride from Mick again.

"At the moment we would be thinking of Cup races next year.

"He'd never want it too quick but given the right conditions he's a very good horse.

"It's undecided at the moment but I had a quick chat with John about the possibility of going to the Cadran on Arc weekend.

"We'll make a decision in a week or so."

Kinane rounded off the day in style when recording a double on Song Of My Heart in the concluding Blenheim Stakes.

He produced the David Wachman-trained filly inside the final furlong and she got up in the closing stages to beat Wrong Answer by a length-and-a-half in the Listed contest.

Wachman missed the victory as he was at sales in Keeneland.