OISIN Orr savoured the biggest moment of his career yesterday as the Rathmullan man won the Irish St Leger at The Curragh.
Orr guided Dermot Weld’s 7/1 shot Search For A Song to a highly-impressive win.
For Orr, a two-time champion apprentice jockey, it was a landmark victory. The 23-year-old claimed a first Classic success and it was a superb ride to see off Fujaira Prince.
“It’s brilliant,” Orr beamed.
“ I never thought that I’d get a chance like this. I’m very grateful to get the ride
“Everything went smooth. The plan was to take my time, gradually creep my way into it. She settled very well today and I was able to do that.”
Search For A Song retained the Irish St Leger having won under the direction of Chris Hayes last year.
Orr gave a masterclass, coming from deep inside the final furlong to overhaul Fujaira Prince.
Orr said: “She picked up when I asked her. Running over the shorter distances has heaped her relax and switch off. She did it very nicely.
“I just had to make a bit of room for myself to get out around a few horses. When I did get the gap, she did it great.”
Orr is now the number one jockey in Weld’s stable.
He said: “Dermot has shown a lot of faith in me. It’s great to get opportunities like that. To be able to repay him is great.”
Weld, victorious in this race for a ninth time, hailed Orr’s performance.
The veteran trainer said: “I thought it was a lovely ride from Oisin Orr, he’s only 23 the other day but he switched her off beautifully and I was confident turning for home that we’d win.
“He gets horses to relax very well. I don’t really have a number one but Oisin rides most of them, I do accept that. I think he has wonderful hands and he fills horses with confidence.”
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