Peslier guides Sans Frontieres to Irish St. Leger victory

It is safe to say that when Olivier Peslier is called to Ireland or England to ride in a big race, it is unwise not to back his mount

That was the case at the Curragh on Saturday as the nonpareil French rider guided the 13-8 favorite Sans Frontieres to victory in the Group 1, $305,000 Irish St. Leger. Peslier kept the 4-year-old son of Galileo tucked away near the rear behind the 5-2 Profound Beauty, who rallied to lead over a furlong from the line, only to have Sans Frontieres run her down late for a handy three-quarter-length victory. The time for the 1 3/4 miles on good to yielding ground was 3:10.36.

Trained by Jeremy Noseda, Sans Frontieres was coming off wins in the 1 1/2-mile, Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the 1 5/8-mile, Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Like the Dermot Weld-trained Profound Beauty, he will now be sent to Australia to try his luck in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Nov. 2.

* Pathfork held on for a game score over Casamento in the Group 1, $254,000 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh on Saturday, giving the strongly favored Coolmore hotshot Zoffany a sound beating into third.

Quickly out of the gate under Fran Berry, Pathfork soon opened up two lengths on the field but after two furlongs allowed the 11-1 maiden winner Casamento to take charge. The 2-1 Pathfork reassumed command inside the quarter pole and appeared to be on his way to an easy victory when Casamento battled back along the rail. Pathfork ultimately prevailed by a head with the 3-2 choice Zoffany another five lengths behind. The winning time was 1:27.95.

A Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor trained by Jessica Harrington, Pathfork is now 3-for-3 lifetime, having previously won over the National course and distance in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes. Harrington said she will make further plans for Pathfork with his American owners at Silverton Hill Partnership after arriving at Keeneland on Sunday for the yearling sales.