Twilight Payment back in the groove in St Leger Trial

Twilight Payment recorded his first win since landing the Melbourne Cup last November and is on course for another trip to Flemington after landing the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes at the Curragh.

The eight-year-old led entering the straight and soon asserted what proved a vital couple of lengths clear under Declan McDonogh.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding stayed on strongly to prevail by a length and three quarters at odds of 5/1 from Princess Zoe who was unable to make any inroads on the winner under two furlongs out but kept on well in the closing stages. Emperor Of The Sun was just a neck back in third, while 5/4 favourite Wordsworth was driven along early in the straight and never threatened back in fifth.

O’Brien was represented by his assistant Brendan Powell who said, “He’s a good old stager. I think he’s won it when Declan sent him on turning in and he’s got two lengths on them.

“I thought Princess Zoe might pick him up but he’s some hard horse to pass. He’s so tough.

“Declan said he felt great going to the start and that’s the first time since he rode him last year that he’s got that sort of feel off him.

“He’s shown that he’s trained on and seems like the horse of old.”

Paddy Power and Betfair both cut Twilight Payment into 20/1 (from 33/1) to repeat his heroics in the Melbourne Cup.

Tony Mullins was very pleased with the run of Princess Zoe saying, “We were training for York and then we were afraid of no rain and if the rain doesn’t come she won’t go to York.

“Considering this came a week earlier than planned and we were two furlongs short of our best distance — I’m disappointed to get beaten but delighted with the performance.

“She’s met a real machine over that distance.

“We were definitely leaning towards the Lonsdale where now she’s showed she has the pace for a mile and six so it puts the other (Ebor) back in.

“We are going to have a good think about this for 24 hours.”

Paddy Power make her a 10/1 chance (from 12/1) for the Ebor.