Torcedor Runner-Up in Grp 1 Irish St Leger

The Informant reports:

Torcedor was unable to provide the perfect ending to a big weekend for Te Akau principal David Ellis, but he still did his connections proud with a gallant second in the Gr. 1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh overnight.

Ellis was in the thick of the action at last night's Thoroughbred Horse of the Year awards as his yearling purchase Melody Belle was named champion-two-year-old before he himself was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award.

Torcedor, a son of Fastnet Rock bought by Ellis for 70,000 euros at the Deauville yearling sale, had beaten top-line stayer Order Of St George to win the Gr. 3 Vintage Crop Stakes in April.

The tables were emphatically turned overnight as Order Of St George romped home by nine lengths, but the Jessica Harrington-trained Torcedor stuck on well for second. He has now earned more than £220,000 in prize-money for a Te Akau ownership syndicate comprised of Sir Peter Vela, Sir Patrick Hogan, Mohammed Moussa and Laurie Laxon.

Meanwhile, winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said there was a possibility that Order Of St George, part-owned by Australian Lloyd Williams, could be set for the Melbourne Cup.

"Ryan kept it simple and it was a very good effort by the horse, we're delighted,” he told Racing Post. “We knew he'd handle the soft ground and that he had the class to deliver a performance like that.

“Now we have a decision to make and it will be made quite soon. We'll think about the Melbourne Cup but we could be tempted by sending him back for another tilt at the Arc, in which he ran so well when third last year.

“He showed at Chantilly last year that he is very comfortable over a mile and a half if there is ease in the ground.”