Delphi, left, fends off Master Of Reality© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Delphi brought up his four-timer with a game display off the front in the mile and six Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh.
This race lost some of its lustre when last year's Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song was ruled out after being found to be in season.
Nonetheless, this was a good performance from the winner (up in trip) who set out to make all, and soon poached a lead of three lengths.
He was ridden by Seamie Heffernan passing the two pole and kept toughing it out despite edging left away from the rail. Master Of Reality stayed on strongly in the final furlong, and cut right into the lead, but Delphi held on by a short head to reward favourite backers at 10/11.
The runner-up was returned at 7/2. Third-placed Micro Manage (5/1) ran a lovely race off an absence of 434 days. He was two and a half lengths off the front pair.
Seamie Heffernan said: “You probably would pick him out in the ring or looking at him at the start, but he doesn’t know when he’s beaten.
“Very few horses will give you one hundred per cent but he feels like he’s giving you that. You don’t have to be the best if you give the most, and he’s one of the most genuine that I will ever ride.
“He’s gone from a mile to a mile and six, and he might just have a bit of class.”
Betfair introduced Delphi at 16/1 for the St Leger.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
