Search For A Song (Oisin Orr, nearside) have their St. Leger rivals beaten© Photo Healy Racing
There have been many famous days for Dermot Weld but a cross-country Group One double is surely as good as it gets, completed by Search For A Song in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger. The Galileo filly was going back-to-back in the staying Curragh highlight.
Weld was equalling Vincent O’Brien as a nine time St. Leger winning trainer, and Search For A Song was the first since her stable companion Vinnie Roe, to win this two years in succession. Vinnie Roe of course won four-in-a-row.
Tarnawa earlier triumphed in the Prix Vermeille under Christophe Soumillon at Longchamp for Rosewell House, and Weld entrusted 23-year-old Donegal man Oisin Orr with the spin on Search For A Song (7/1).
Twice top of the pile in the apprentice ranks, Orr was coolness personified aboard Search For A Song, an approach instilled into him by Weld who issued “ride her with confidence” instructions.
A first Group One win for Orr was ultimately achieved by two lengths from Fujaira Prince with a neck to Twilight Payment in third.
So different to 2019 the Moyglare Stud Farm victorious four-year-old was held up in rear, before getting closer in sixth three furlongs out.
Fourth two furlongs out, she was pushed along in second a furlong and a half out.
Ridden a furlong out the Weld runner led inside the final furlong, staying on well close home to seal the win.
“It's been a special day winning my ninth St Leger. I had one horse win it four times, back-to-back, Vintage Crop twice, and now this mare has won it twice," said Weld.
“I've trained her for the day for a long time. I also wanted to get that Group 1 over a mile-and-a-quarter into her in case people thought she was only a staying mare.
“You saw what the filly that beat her in the Group 1 did, Magical. I was quietly confident today.
“It was lovely for Oisin Orr, he was only 23 the other day. I thought he switched her off beautifully and I was confident turning for home that he would win.
“Oisin gets horses to relax very well. To be fair to Chris Hayes he rode her brilliantly here last year and rode a beautiful race on Amma Grace for me earlier on. They all have their own talents.
“I don't really have a number one but Oisin is riding most of them. I think he has wonderful hands, rides a very relaxed race and fills horses with confidence.
“You might be worried watching him as very often he hasn't moved on horses. I love horses getting into a rhythm, gradual progress and ride them to come and that's what he does very very well.
“When you win the Vermeille and Irish Leger on the same day and you're training 100 horses, which is no number of horses in Ireland nowadays, you get a very big kick.
“The autumn was always the plan for the Tarnawa. She came back to me from Gilltown Stud in great condition.
“She went to Cork and won the Group 3 from Cayenne Pepper It was a real good performance and she put up a huge performance today.
“They are two very high class fillies that I have purposefully targeted the second half of the year with.
“Today was the day for both of them and we'll go from there. Obviously with Tarnawa I will have to speak his highness The Aga Khan and to Pat Downes and come back with a plan for her.”
On Search For A Song's early season form:- “She was highly geared earlier in the year. She was very unlucky in Cork but also lucky as the man riding her used his head when he pulled her up after getting the bump on the bend.
“She was very free in the early part of the year as well but that's my job to train them and teach them.
“I had to get the confidence of the filly to learn to relax.”
On what he'll do to celebrate:- “I'll have a very nice cup of tea and a very nice dinner!”
Paddy Power go 8/1 from 14/1 Search For A Song for the British Champions Long Distance Cup.
(GC & EM)
