IF EVER a horse deserved to win a Group One event it was Oscar Schindler who, specially trained for Saturday's Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger, realised trainer Kevin Prendergast's ambition with a sublime three and a half length victory over the younger Group One-winning filly, Key Change. He will now take his chance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
At 4 to 1, Oscar Schindler was the shortest-priced winner on a day which proved a bonanza for the bookies and set them up for this week's six-day Listowel Festival. By coincidence, the Tote aggregate of £143,269 matched last year's tally to all but £1 and, predictably, the Jackpot was not won, leaving a £15,000 pool to the next Curragh meeting on October 5th.
A first Irish Classic winner for 39-years-old Stephen Craine, who in 1992 won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on St Jovite, Oscar Schindler appeared to be only cantering on entering the straight. It was a very confident jockey who let out the proverbial reef under two furlongs down to sail past Key Change in a few strides. "I was always travelling easily, I was always going to win," said Craine.
Third behind Strategic Choice in last year's renewal, Oscar Schindler has improved this season and, as his handler claims, is getting better. The 17 hands four-year-old failed to win last year but ran well to finish fourth in the Irish Derby and again in the Irish St Leger. This season he won the Group Three Ormonde Stakes at Chester and followed up with success in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
While well beaten into fourth place in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on his next appearance at Ascot, Oscar Schindler was interfered with when travelling well two furlongs down. "He wouldn't have won or even been placed, but he would have finished five lengths closer," said Prendergast, who won the Irish St Leger in 1972 and 1973 with Pidget and Conor Pass and whose Tyrone Bridge was touched off by the John Oxx-trained Petite Ile in 1989, Oscar Schindler, who is well suited to a mile and six furlongs and, despite his size, to fast ground, is owned band was bred by Oliver Lehane from Athy.
Aidan O'Brien saddled his first Group One winner when Desert King, partnered by Walter Swinburn, arrived with a powerful late challenge to collar the Geoff Lewis-trained Referendum close home and win the Aga Khan Studs National Stakes by a neck. Stable companion Johan Cruyff finished a close up fifth.
"Desert King and Johan Cruyff are very good colts, both still very raw and growing like mad. Desert King has taken time to learn, but he loves racing and is improving all the time. He could be a 2,000 Guineas and Derby horse," said O'Brien, who has entered the winner in some top races, including the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The highly-regarded Referendum had previously won his maiden at Goodwood.
Bred by the National Stud and owned in partnership by Michael Tab or and Mrs John Magnier, Desert King has always been a shy and nervous colt. He is by Danehill out of the Nureyev mare, Sabaah, who is a half-sister to Maroof, the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. A yearling half-brother by Indian Ridge to Desert King will be auctioned at Goffs.
Trainer Pat Flynn has his charges in sparkling form. Ger's Royale and Wandering Thoughts completed a fine 89 to 1 stable double, winning respectively the Smurfit Paribas Bank Premier Handicap and the listed MacDonagh and Boland Stakes.
Ridden by John Reid, Ger's Royale got up to beat Another Sky-Lark by three parts of a length; and the Niall McCullagh-partnered Wandering Thoughts had first man to hold Ramooz and John Reid by the same margin.
Successful in the Irish Cambridgeshire two years ago and fourth in the same race earlier this month, Wandering Thoughts was running for the 38th time. "He's a massive, power horse, all muscle," said his handler, who had to sideline him for 18 months as he had broken down on his off-fore. "If his legs hold up he will win plenty more races," he said.
Ramooz did not have the best of runs on the rails and had to be switched, but Burden Of Proof, runner-up in the same event last year and this time a fast-finishing third, had no run at all.
There may have been similar tight finishes at the Phoenix Park, but I cannot recall a closer finish than the Kildare Hotel and Country Club Maiden when five two-year-olds flashed across the line, virtually inseparable. Four short heads separated the quintet, victory going to the John Oxx-trained Carlisle Bay, who arrived under Donal Manning to barely hold Welsh Lion, who also finished fast.
Oxx said that the Lady Clagueowned winner is a very nervous colt and was brought to the race in order to settle him, "but he is a very promising horse". The runner-up is beautifully-bred, being by Caerleon out of the dam of Flame Of Tara.
It was not surprising to hear that Vintage Crop has been retired. The nine-year-old 1993 Melbourne Cup winner, who was due to run in the St Leger, an event he won in 1993 and 1994 and contested on two other occasions, will join the National Stud, not as a stallion, as he is gelded, but as a tourist attraction.
In announcing his retirement on Saturday, trainer Dermot Weld said that the oldtimer had lost his speed and sparkle on the gallops. "I want him to be remembered as the champion he was." Owner Michael Smurfit said he was very sad to lose him. "I'll miss the old guy. He has been part of my life for the past six years. Dermot was right not to run him in the St Leger and risk him breaking down."
Vintage Crop was the first Irish-trained horse to top the £1m mark in earnings and is also the only European-trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup, an event he ran in on three occasions.
