Vinnie Roe provided champion jockey Pat Smullen with his first classic win, and trainer Dermot Weld with his third success in the race, when landing the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Definite Article three-year-old, the first of his age group to win the final 'classic' since 1992, responded gamely under pressure to head Millenary inside the final furlong for a two lengths victory. Marienbard was the same distance back in third, while Persian Punch, who was slightly hampered by Millenary inside the final furlong leading to a stewards enquiry, was a further length and a half adrift.
'He has progressed well throughout the year, and had to win today before we could even consider going for the Melbourne Cup', said Weld before adding: 'He has all the right credentials for Melbourne in terms of his constitution and courage. The main reason he ran here, rather than at Doncaster, was to take on the older horses with a view to running in Australia'.
Cashmans have cut Vinnie Roe from 40/1 to 14/1 for the Melbourne Cup, and Weld commented: 'If he runs again this season, then it will be in Australia'.
Weld and Smullen were earlier on the mark with One More Round, who swept through at the furlong pole for a facile victory in the Stanley Racing Handicap.
'The plan was to have a winner for Michael (Smurfit) today', said a smiling Weld. 'Unfortunately Michael is stuck in Chicago due to the disaster in the United States. He did it well, although I thought he had enough weight', added the Rosewell House trainer.
Pat Eddery was seen at his best when getting Invincible Spirit up in the final stride to touch off Toroca in the Aon MacDonagh Boland Stakes. 'He loves that fast ground, and may go next for the Diadem Stakes at Ascot in a fortnight', said trainer John Dunlop, who was enjoying some compensation for the defeat of Millenary in the St Leger.
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