Scandinavia recorded his eighth consecutive victory when comfortably landing the Irish St Leger on Sunday. His first success for the yard came a day after Kyprios’ final win, and the Justify colt has quickly stepped into his shoes.
After disappointment in the Queen’s Vase, he bolted up in the Bahrain Trophy in first time cheek-pieces. He emulated Kyprios in landing the Goodwood Cup, albeit as a rare three-year-old winner, before taking the British St Leger.
Another Goodwood Cup followed this season, recording the highest RPR (126) in the race in the last 10 years. Despite O’Brien’s earlier public acceptance of a ‘low-grade infection’ at the yard, Scandinavia continued his dominance to head a Ballydoyle 1-2-3 in the Irish St Leger.
Speaking to the Press Association, via At The Races, Aidan O’Brien hailed the performance, stating: “He’s a great horse. He just has an unbelievable amount of stamina. He’s a big, high cruiser and we were delighted to have Queenstown there today to keep going along.
“He just goes along there and he really only kicks in after a mile-and-six, which is very unusual. He was trained for Ascot for the Gold Cup and then to do these other things. The ground is probably as soft as he wants it, he’s a very good mover as well. Ryan gave him a great ride.”
‘He’s a made Gold Cup horse’ – Scandinavia not certain to be seen again this season.
When asked regarding the next steps for Scandinavia, in particular the Prix du Cadran, Aidan O’Brien said: “It’s possible. When Ryan came in there he said: ‘what about the Cadran for the second horse (Queenstown), to give him a chance’.
“The third horse could go to Ascot for the two-mile race and then we could put him away for Ascot next year. You could go to France and the ground could be very bad for him. I don’t want to abuse him either because he’s a made Gold Cup horse. He floats on the fast ground.”
It was also a pleasing return to action for Jan Brueghel, who’s had a stagnated career of late. Having been close to death following a bout of pneumonia, he appears to be gradually returning to form.
“We thought he’d get very tired. He was sick enough and he was off for a good while,” said O’Brien.
“He was just about ready to start today. But we knew if he was going to go to Ascot he had to start today. He does stay very well and he’s a classy horse and handles an ease in the ground. You’d have to be delighted with him.”