Continuous storms to St Leger glory in Doncaster to hand O'Brien his seventh triumph and Moore his third
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combined once again as Continuous stormed to an emphatic three-length victory in the St Leger at Doncaster, writes Tom Masters.
The Master of Ballydoyle claimed his seventh win in the race, and third with Moore in the saddle, in a year that keeps on giving.
The victory follows his 4000th win during the Irish Champions Festival last week, in a year that has also seen him extend his training record in the Epsom Derby and overtake Sir Michael Stoute as Royal Ascot’s leading trainer.
Few of those triumphs were more impressive than Continuous today, who was already building a comfortable lead approaching the final furlong.
He was not fading either, with his lead only extending as he reached the finish line, leaving pre-race favourite Arrest and Frankie Dettori, in his final St Leger, in their wake.
🏆 Seventh Heaven for @Ballydoyle!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 16, 2023
Continuous surges to the win in the Betfred St Leger
It's an imperious performance to take it for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien#ITVRacing | #StLegerFestival | @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/OKB9rfXISN
O’Brien’s other candidates Tower of London, Denmark and Alexandroupolis finished fourth, eighth and ninth respectively.
“He's by Heart's Cry, who was a top stallion and the only horse to beat Deep Impact in Japan.
"He's getting better, he's got a great will to win, travels and has a turn of foot. He's got a lot of guts."
Meanwhile, O’Brien, on yet another classic victory said: "He's a lot of class this horse, and he does stay and handles soft ground.”
"It's a great crowd here at Doncaster, and it's a shame the way the schedule has been – if they could keep them apart it would be huge as I haven't been able to be here as often as I would like.
“It's the last Classic of the year and it's great to win it."