Weld rues tactics as St Mark's Basilica survives inquiry and Tarnawa challenge

It was as compelling and cagey as we had hoped but once again a marquee Group 1 threw up as many questions about the interference rules as it did answers to the fundamental topic of who was the best horse in the race.

After a scrambled sprint to the line, St Mark's Basilica prevailed from Tarnawa in a thrilling €1 million Irish Champion Stakes, going a long way to reinforcing his claim to the title of the season's best three-year-old. However, in doing so, he also veered a long way across the track, traversing eight of Leopardstown's manicured green lanes and carrying Tarnawa all the way over with him.

There was no contact, and Moore, who received a one-day ban for careless riding, had his stick in his correct hand, but neither did he do much to steer his mount back on to a true line. And why would he? The rules do not compel riders to stop horses drifting, with Moore on the wrong end of that situation in the Matron Stakes. This time, he was the beneficiary, and coaxed St Mark's Basilica to a fifth consecutive Group 1.

It was Aidan O'Brien's tenth triumph in the race, 20 years after Galileo was chinned by Fantastic Light in a similarly dramatic epic.

Here, with no obvious pace, it was the outsider Patrick Sarsfield who led after Kevin Manning took Poetic Flare back. Moore tracked him and Keane whipped them in on Tarnawa.

On the home turn, the three main protagonists were stacked up. It was like watching a catapult at full strain, and St Mark's Basilica was the one with the most velocity out of the slingshot.

He reeled in Poetic Flare about 80 yards out, and then held off Tarnawa. The fact there was three-parts of a length in it doubtless made the stewards' subsequent deliberation easier, although the extent to which the runner-up was intimidated gave them plenty to think about.

St Mark's Basilica is far apart from third home Poetic Flare in the Irish Champion StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Colin thought he'd get it," said the runner-up's trainer Dermot Weld, who was visibly annoyed that the inquiry verdict went against the Aga Khan's filly.

"He said the winning rider apologised to him and if you watch Ryan Moore's left hand, he is edging the horse over. He knows exactly what he is doing. She's been carried halfway across the track and I thought Ryan could have done a better job of keeping his horse straight."

He added: "The stewards made the decision and I accept it, and so does his Highness. We're very disappointed but we'll move on now."

What was your big takeout from the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown?

What should not be lost in the fallout is just how good St Mark's Basilica is. The 2020 Dewhurst hero is now the holder of the French 2,000 Guineas and Derby crowns. He added the Eclipse in July, confirming his status as one of the most exciting colts to emerge from Ballydoyle during the current incumbent's reign.

O'Brien was non-committal about where he would go next, but it wouldn't be surprising if this was the last time we see him on the racecourse. There is a yawning Galileo-shaped hole to fill in Coolmore, and this son of Siyouni is exactly the sort of stallion prospect 'The Lads' have so desperately been seeking. He missed York due to injury, but recovered in time to produce another devastating performance here.

"He's just an exceptional horse," O'Brien said of the 5-6 favourite. "We're so lucky to have him, and it's to keep him safe now and have him to go off to stud, which is going to be very exciting for us all.

"He has all the Galileo strong qualities, in that he is genuine and his head goes down when you ask him to lengthen. And then he is getting the speed from Siyouni, who is by Pivotal, so he is a beautiful blend of speed and determination."

'All roads lead to Longchamp now'

Reflecting on the cat-and-mouse nature of the race, he added: "You knew turning in everyone was getting ready to pull the trigger. They were pulling back the arrow to let it fly, so it was going to be whoever had the most speed then."

Not for the first time, that proved to be St Mark's Basilica, who was trimmed from a general 3-1 to 2-1 for next month's Champion Stakes. It remains to be seen whether he will turn up there.

Here, though, he was brilliant once again, and his quality ensured Ger Lyons and Jessica Harrington were not the only ones to depart with winners. O'Brien's blushes hardly need saving, but, if you're going to win just one, trust him to plunder the one that matters most.

For Weld, that remains the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was left to rue whether they might have been better off letting Tarnawa stride on here, but there will be another day.

"Hindsight is great, and we did consider letting her go on," he mused. "If Colin had it over, it's quite simple, he felt if we challenged on the inside he would have won.

"But with the Arc being my target all year, I didn't want to change what has been a winning formula, so that's why we rode her the way we did. All roads lead to Longchamp now."

Watch: St Mark's Basilica triumphs in thrilling Irish Champion Stakes

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday