Source: Shane_012 via Twitter
Order of St George will return to Royal Ascot in a bid to repeat his triumph at the event last year.
The five-year-old competed in the Gold Cup in 2016 and produced an excellent ride to win the meet in comfortable fashion, beating out his nearest rival – Mizzou – by three lengths. The bay horse has eight victories under his belt and will be determined to add a ninth career by the end of the week.
Order of St George will be one of the leading contenders once again for the Gold Cup, and his current 4/5 odds are worth monitoring ahead of the meet via comparison sites such as the Winners Enclosure, which also compile the latest offers, such as a “bet £10 get £40” welcome bonus.
Aiden O’Brien’s charge has been dominant during his three-year career, finishing outside the top three places in his 16 races only three times.
He made his breakthrough towards the end of the 2014 season, claiming the first victory of his career at the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Maiden. Order of St George highlighted his quality over the rest of the field by finishing eight-and-a-half lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
The bay horse was just edged out in his bid at the Curragh Cup in 2015 by a short head by Bondi Beach, but he bounced back with an emphatic win at Down Royal triumphing at Her Majesty’s Plate by a comfortable margin.
That was the beginning of six wins on the bounce, including his victory at Ascot in the Gold Cup. Although Order of St George was considered the favourite for the contest, he produced a thrilling performance to finish well ahead of the rest of the field courtesy of a strong surge down the final furlong.
He followed that display with another victory at the Irish St Leger Trial Stakes in Curragh, but then endured a four-meet winless stretch, featuring a fourth-place finish at the British Champions Long Distance Cup on his return to Ascot.
Source: David Betts via Twitter
Order of St George found his form at the start of 2017 with a victory in Leopardstown to end his drought, beating out Twilight Payment by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore will ensure that the bay horse is ready for the challenge of Ascot once again, putting the five-year through his paces. His win at Leopardstown proves that when he’s at his best there is no competitor in the field that can match his pace, making him the leading contender for the Gold Cup crown.
