Leading Light brings up O'Brien's treble

Ascot Gold Cup hero Leading Light picked up another good pot when putting his four rivals to the sword in the Group 3 Irish St Leger trial at the Curragh.

The classy four-year-old improved his race record to eight from 10 with this success. He was a warm 2/5 favourite and scored by a length and a quarter in this mile and six contest. Shu Lewis at 33/1 put in a bold show from the front. She was headed at the furlong pole by Leading Light who always looked like winning then. Shu Lewis rallied on the inner, but was nailed on the line for second by a short head by last year’s winner Royal Diamond The latter responded to Niall McCullagh’s pressure and was nearest at the finish at 5/1.

Aidan O’Brien said: “I'm delighted with that. He's had a good break since Ascot. We let him down well after that and it's nice to get him started back. He came here two weeks ago for a canter to wake him up a bit. He should come on nicely from that as he's giving a good blow.

“The Leger falls lovely in the second half of the season for him. I don't know where he'll go after that but the main thing is the lads would like him back for Ascot next year.”

The other Aidan O'Brien winners on the card were Hall of Mirrors and Gleneagles Joseph O'Brien was on Gleneagles so he had a double courtesy of Leading Light. Seamie Heffernan rode Hall Of Mirrors

The Stewards interviewed J.A. Heffernan, rider of Shu Lewis, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found J.A. Heffernan in breach of Regulation 10 3. (f) and having taken his record into

account suspended him for two race days.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson