Oaklands Stud based Power (GB) has had a benchmark year with two Group I winners in Europe in Laws of Indices and Helvic Dream and made it even better overnight when his classy stayer Sonnyboyliston captured the Group I Irish St Leger (1m6f) at the Curragh beating Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment.
Trained by Johnny Murtagh and ridden by Ben Coen, Sonnyboyliston came into this race off a win in the Ebor Handicap at York and took another big step forward here with a stylish three-quarter length victory taking his overall record to six wins and three placings from 14 starts.
“Sonnyboyliston never disappoints and I thought he did very well to win today. It looked like a proper race and he had a good position all the way. He comes off the bridle but I thought from two furlongs out Ben looked confident on him. He got in a battle, but he never lacks in a battle,” said Johnny Murtagh.
Sonnyboyliston is entered for the Melbourne Cup, but connections are in no hurry to come to Australia.
"It would take a fair offer to take him away from the owners [Kildare Racing Club] now, but the Melbourne Cup is worth €2.5 million. It mightn't be for him this year, but he's only four and could end up down there for us some time yet,” Murtagh said.
Bought for 26,000 euros by his trainer from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Sonnyboyliston has certainly proven a great investment for his owners the Kildare Racing Club.
The third Group I winner for Power, Sonnyboyliston is the first winner from tough staying winner Miss Macnamara, a half-sister by Dylan Thomas to Group III winner Karamela and stakes-winner Gemstone.
A brilliant sprinter miler by Oasis Dream, Power is a versatile sire that has left 21 stakes-winners worldwide and is exceptional value at Oaklands Stud this spring at a fee of $13,200.
