Racing: Australia eclipsed by Grey Gatsby

IT WAS a weekend full of top-class ­action in England, Ireland and France, but there is no doubt the eclipse of Australia in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes by French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby was the headline-making moment.

The Grey Gatsby and Ryan Moore power ahead of Australia, right, to land the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes. Picture: PA

Kevin Ryan has been saying all year how his Mastercraftsman colt had not got the credit he deserved for winning the Dante and the French Derby, but he looked to have a tall order on his hands to reverse York form from the Juddmonte International.

On that occasion Australia was an easy three-length winner and he was sent off a long odds-on shot to to add a fourth Group One to his record, but this time Joseph O’Brien was left to plough a wide path throughout and Ryan Moore cut every corner on the grey, who powered home to win by a neck a 7-1 with the pair well clear of Trading Leather.

Ryan said: “He’s a great racehorse and I’m very proud of him. I’ve felt all along that he’s never had the credit he deserves and if he doesn’t now it will be unbelievable. The horse has done his own talking

“He won’t go to the Arc. He could go to Ascot on Qipco day [Champion Stakes] and if he did that would be his last run. We’ll start off next year in the Dubai Duty Free.”

At Doncaster the “will-he-won’t-he” saga over favourite Kingston Hill had a happy outcome in the Ladbrokes St Leger. Much debate centred on whether the track should be watered or not, but in the end Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni became the newest names on the British Classic list.

Set plenty to do in the straight, the 9-4 favourite came with a sustained run down the outside and while he bumped the third, Snow Sky, and leaned on the runner-up Romsdal, he had a length and a quarter to spare at the line.

Varian, who is likely to target an Arc, bid said: “It’s an exciting thing to win a Classic and it’s what we’re all in it for.”

Paul Hanagan enjoyed the supporting events on Town Moor, as Muthmir dazzled in the Portland and Estidhkaar enhanced his Classic claims in the Champagne Stakes.

On the undercard at Leopardstown, Dermot Weld’s Free Eagle, not seen since being beaten by Australia this time last year, showed he may still live up to his tag of one-time Derby ­favourite by demolishing his field in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes.

The English Champion Stakes at Ascot next month is his big target.

Fiesolana gave Curragh trainer ­Willie McCreery his biggest winner to date when scooting through a gap in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes, while John F Kennedy continued to look the part as he maintained Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the John Deere Juvenile Turf Stakes, setting up a tilt at the Dewhurst.

Trainer Tom Dascombe was full of praise for jockey Richard Kingscote after an enterprising ride aboard Brown Panther gave the pair their first taste of Group One success in the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger at the ­Curragh on Sunday.

Former England international footballer and part-owner Michael Owen was moved to tears when his pride and joy claimed Royal Ascot glory three years ago and there have been plenty of good days since, but this was undoubtedly his crowning moment.

Sent off at 14-1 having run consistently well in some of the season’s top staying events, Brown Panther was positioned in second for much of the journey, with Kingscote the only rider keen to keep Ballydoyle pacemaker Eye Of The Storm within striking distance.

While Eye Of The Storm capitulated soon after the home turn, Brown Panther, perhaps to the surprise of the other riders, kept up the gallop ­remorselessly and the chasing pack never looked like reeling him in.

The star of Manor House Stables passed the post six-and-a-half lengths clear of Ascot Gold Cup hero and odds-on favourite Leading Light, with Encke a close third.

Dascombe said: “Well, the first thing to say is he gave him a brilliant ride.

“He won’t go to Australia [for the Melbourne Cup]. He’ll go for the Champions race at Ascot [Long Distance Cup] if he’s all right in the morning.”

Owen said: “That was very special. He’s the apple of my eye, as everyone knows, and he was pretty spectacular out there today.”

Varian and Atzeni’s dream weekend continued as 11-8 favourite ­Cursory Glance struck gold in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, while Weld’s Epsom Oaks runner-up Tarfasha (11-10 favourite) bounced back from a disappointing run in the Irish Oaks with a comprehensive victory in the Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes.

O’Brien’s Gleneagles could be bound for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket after enhancing his reputation with a clear-cut victory in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and Stepper Point gained just reward for a string of good efforts behind the likes of Sole Power as the 9-4 favourite landed the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes for William Muir.

There was high drama at Longchamp, as Treve could finish only fourth in the Prix Vermeille, her prep run for a ­defence of her Arc crown.

Although disappointed, Criquette Head-Maarek found some positives in defeat and she is likely to return to Longchamp for the big race.

Ruler Of The World shone in the Prix Foy for Frankie Dettori, who could yet partner Ectot in the Arc should Gregory Benoist opt to get off the impressive Prix Niel winner in favour of unbeaten filly Avenir Certain.

Freddy Head’s Charm Spirit saw off Toronado in the Prix du Moulin and is in the running for the QEII at Ascot on Champions Day.