Curragh Second for Twilight Payment

Twilight Payment ran well to take second behind top stayer Order Of St George in the G3 Irish St Leger Trial over a mile and three-quarters at the Curragh, Ireland, on Saturday, August 20.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, broke well and took up the running before racing in a clear second after a furlong as Arya Tara stretched out the five-strong field.

Twilight Payment was pushed along to take closer order with a half a mile left and the son of Teofilo stayed on to briefly challenge for the lead over a furlong from home.

He battled away in the closing stages to go down by a length and a half to this year’s Gold Cup winner, who scored in 3m 9.20s on ground described as good, good to yielding in places, with nine lengths back to Arya Tara in third.

Jimmy Hyland, Godolphin Representative in Ireland, said: “Kevin Manning was very happy with Twilight Payment - he said the horse battled to the line, stayed the trip well and handled the ground. 

“It depends on how he comes out of the race, but Jim Bolger is thinking about going for the English St Leger at Doncaster next month.”