Stablemates Bondi Beach and Order Of St George fought out a thrilling final furlong battle with the former winning by a short head to give Aidan O'Brien the Group Three Curragh Cup. Forgotten Rules the 8/13 favourite, cut out the pace in this mile and six contest but the race only hotted up turning for home. Pat Smullen turned to the whip on Forgotten Rules at the two pole as Bondi Beach closed into second.

Order Of St George unleashed his challenge a furlong and a half out and he came to join his stablemate with a furlong to go. Forgotten Rules had been burned off into third.

The pair were locked together with their jockeys in the drive position but it was Bondi Beach who was marginally ahead close home and he held on to win at 7/1. Order Of St George was a 4/1 chance.

The pair pulled six and a half lengths clear of Drifting Mist who pipped Forgotten Rules for third.

Aidan O'Brien said: "They look two proper St Leger horses and have pulled right away as well. The mile and six furlongs helped Bondi Beach, and Seamie gave him a great ride.

"Order Of St George was entitled to get tired. He was ready in the spring and then got a temperature. He could go for something like the Voltigeur at York, while the winner may not need another run.

"Seamie has been with us since the start. He's a world-class rider and always was and has been riding big race winners for us for so long. He's a massive part of the team, and nobody deserves it (big race double today) more than him."

Heffernan and O'Brien initiated their double with Diamondsandrubies in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes.

Bondi Beach was given a quote of 12/1 for the St Leger by Paddy Power, while the same firm go 14/1 Order Of St George.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee