'Either of them could go to Melbourne, they’re two real proper staying horses' - Aidan O'Brien raises Australia option for Leger stars

Aidan O'Brien had to wait little more than a quarter of an hour for Group 1 compensation after witnessing Auguste Rodin go down in a blaze of glory to Economics in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

With the front three in the betting, Ballydoyle always looked to hold the key to the St Leger, although the market seemed unsure which should be favourite, while watching on from Leopardstown, O'Brien would not have been prepared to put his neck on the line and name a stable number one.

Jan Brueghel became number eight on O'Brien's St Leger roll of honour, a record stretching back to Milan in 2001, the year that was all about Galileo. 

That moves O'Brien to exactly half that of the record held by 19th century northern powerhouse John Scott, although the master of Ballydoyle has arguably shown greater versatility in racking up 45 British Classics in total 

Jan Brueghel is clearly a talented but raw individual, and Sean Levey performed masterfully to get him even half-interested in dropping the bridle. 

He looks every inch next year's Gold Cup horse – not that we should be rushing to forget Kyprios – but O'Brien may have another major staying prize in mind for him, and also perhaps for runner-up Illinois.

Aidan O'Brien: watched Jan Brueghel win the St Leger from LeopardstownCredit: Edward Whitaker

The trainer said: "I’m delighted. They’re two very good horses and the two of them stay very well. Sean gave his horse a great ride. He was only after having three runs and he was very green each day he ran, so he grew up a lot. He put his head out. There was nothing between them and they’re two very good horses I’d say."

Even after the result O'Brien was not in a hurry to split the pair in terms of talent, for all that Illinois has been placed at Group 1 and Group 2 level over a mile and a half.

"We knew Jan Brughel had improved a lot from Goodwood and we knew Illinois was in a really good place," said O'Brien. "There was nothing between them all the way down the straight and they didn’t stop.

"Jan Brueghel is definitely a progressive horse, a classy horse. He’s four from four and he really had to go down to the [bottom of the] well, and it came out."

Asked what the immediate future might hold, O'Brien said: "Either of them could go to Melbourne, they’re two real proper staying horses, classy stayers. Illinois will have no problem I’d say, looking at that, going back to a mile and a half."

Jan Brueghel is no bigger than 16-1 for the Melbourne Cup, while he is now the same price in a few places for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. 

For all that raw, green energy, Flemington surely looks the right place for him if O'Brien and the lads want to roll some big dice before the year is out.

Read these next:

Sean Levey and Jan Brueghel strike in the St Leger after wearing down stablemate Illinois 

Economics denies Auguste Rodin to land first Group 1 in epic Irish Champion Stakes tussle 

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