Royal Ascot 2016: St George to slay Gold Cup rivals

David Metcalf | June 15, 2016

Order Of St George up for the Gold Cup

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has a terrific record in the Gold Cup and Order Of St George can enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the Group 1 contest over 2m 4f at Royal Ascot (16.20).

The Ballydoyle handler has won the race six times, saddling Yates to victory in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, Fame and Glory in 2011 and Leading Light in 2014.

In Order Of St George he has a top class colt who is unbeaten in his last four starts and put in the best staying performance in Europe last season when winning the Irish St Leger in devastating style.

After being held-up, the beautifully bred son of Galileo made smooth headway three from home before taking up the running at the two marker and powering clear to beat Agent Murphy by 11 lengths.

Top class field strung out like washing

Order Of St George had a top class field, including the likes of Forgotten Rules and Gospel Choir, strung out like washing and the manner of the victory marked him out as an ideal candidate for this stamina sapping contest.

The four-year-old also comes into the race on the back of comfortable 4 1/2 length success in a Listed contest at Leopardstown 13 days ago which should have put him spot on, and another plus is that Order Of St George is versatile as regards ground.