Ryan Moore with Order Of St George© Photo Healy Racing
Order Of St George began his campaign with a win when putting his two rivals to the sword in Navan's Group Three Vintage Crop Stakes.
The 2/9 favourite was content to track British raider Lord Yeats throughout and was pushed along to get closer inside the three pole.
He came through to head a ridden-along Lord Yeats coming to the final furlong and stretched away for a five and a half length success.
Lord Yeats finished 14 lengths ahead of third-placed Clongowes
Jockey Ryan Moore said: "He's been an excellent horse and obviously he's a pleasure to have for those sort of races. I thought he did it very smoothly today. He's carrying big penalties all the time and hopefully he'll have a good year again.
"It would have suited me if they were going a bit quicker but it was the right race for him, he was 5/1 on and did what he had to do. He's the best one (in the staying division)."
Aidan O'Brien added: "I’m delighted with him, and hopefully he’ll go for the Saval Beg (at Leopardstown on May 25) which is what we usually do and then on to Ascot.
“He finishes out very well when he gets into his tempo and he gallops up the hill. Ryan said he was very relaxed and moved very well. They would be the two things that you would love to hear.”
This gave O'Brien and Moore a Navan double having taken the opener with So Perfect
Paddy Power kept Order Of St George unchanged at 7/2 for the Ascot Gold Cup and at 14/1 for the Coronation Cup.
Order Of St George, the Irish St Leger hero of 2017, was beaten in this race last year at 4/5.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
