CREPELLO - Champions Weekend was the best yet

Saturday and Sundays Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh was arguably the best yet with an array of world-class equine talent on view and some close finishes to keep patrons on their toes right to the very end.

Saturdays Irish Champion Stakes was a case and point where Saint Mark's Basilica just about got the better of Tarnawa in somewhat controversial circumstances.

Although only four went to post, three of them were world class. Saint Mark's Basilica started at a shade of odds-on and was settled in third place as the Joseph O'Brien runner Patrick Sarsfield cut out the running. The race began in earnest off the home turn with the teak tough Poetic Flare coming up the rail and Ryan Moore, aboard St Mark's Basilica, obviously not wanting to eyeball Poetic Flare, electing to come up the centre of the track. However, although Moore had his stick in his right hand, his mount drifted right across the track carrying Tarnawa with him and in the end, he landed the spoils by three-parts of a length, with Poetic Flare just a nose further back in third place.

A steward’s inquiry was quickly called but the placings remained unaltered, however Moore was handed a one-day ban for careless riding.

It was a very irate Dermot Weld, trainer of Tarnawa, that I spoke to, and he was very unhappy with Moore's tactics as he felt that a jockey of his standing should be capable of straightening up his mount. Weld is convinced that his charge was the best horse in the race and there are many who would share his view.

Tarnawa now heads to Longchamp for the A'rc, while connections of the winner have no set plans. Jim Bolger, trainer of Poetic Flare, is viewing some of the big back-end mile races.

The Group 1 Matron Stakes also caused something of a storm when No Speak Alexander shaded the verdict over the Paddy Twomey trained Pearls Galore.

Owned and bred by Noel O'Callaghan of Mount Armstrong Stud near Cashel, the daughter of Shalaa was treated like a rag doll in the Prix Rothschild, a race won by Mother Earth, who was in the field again.

Settled in mid division, No Speak Alexander improved to be in the firing line and soon led. Ryan Moore aboard Mother Earth came looking for racing room, however, Shane Foley on No Speak Alexander firmly closed the door causing a good deal of interference with Mother Earth the main sufferer. While all this was happening Pearls Galore was making significant progress on the outside but failed to reel in No Speak Alexander who prevailed by a neck.

The stewards were quick to call an inquiry but in all honesty the winner was never going to lose the race as Mother Earth could finish only third. If this happened in France No Speak Alexander would be demoted, however, Irish rules are different, and she kept the race, but Shane Foley was stood down for five days.

Foley went on to record a three-timer when guiding Real Appeal to victory in the mile Group 2 Boomerang Mile.

Coming from off the pace, the four-year-old hit the front inside the final furlong and in spite of edging to his left, defeated Fev Rover by half a length, which prompted trainer Jessica Harrington to say that Foley is 10lb better around Leopardstown than anywhere else.

Twenty-year-old Ben Coen, who is stable jockey to Johnnie Murtagh, opened his Classic winning account when landing the Irish St Leger at Sunday’s Curragh session, aboard Sonnyboyliston.

Never too far out of his ground, the four-year-old arrived to challenge inside the two-furlong marker and battled well tom defeat Twilight by three-parts of a length.

A €26,000 yearling purchase, Sonnyboyliston has now won half a million in prize-money and the story looks far from over.

Ben Coen, who was attached to Andy Slattery's stable, is one of a new breed of flat riders to have hit the scene in the past few years. He is a gifted rider that could well become champion jockey in the not-too-distant future

Paddy Twomey did not leave the meeting empty handed and was on hand to greet La Petite Coko after she landed the mile and two Group 2 Blandford Stakes.

Racing in midfield early on, the daughter of Ruler Of The World responded well to the urgings of Billy Lee to reel in the favourite Love half a furlong out and in a pulsating drive to the line got up in the last stride to land the money by a short head.

It's all of six years since Eddie Lynam saddled a Group 1 winner but that all changed in the space of just over a minute when Romantic Proposal swooped late to capture the Group 1 Flying Five at the expense of A Case For You.

Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley struck again at Group 1 level when Discoveries landed the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Fillies Stakes after a good scrap with Agartha.

Never too far out of her ground, the daughter of Mastercraftsman found plenty to hit the wire three quarters of a length to the good.

Well regarded by connections, the winner will go into winter quarters as one of the favourites for some of next year’s fillies Classics.

The final Grade 1 on an unforgettable weekend was the National Stakes for juveniles and it went for export as the Godolphin owned Charley Appleby trained Native Trail was simply too good as he tore the field apart in the closing stages.

The unbeaten Point Lonsdale from the Aidan O'Brien yard went to post an odds-on favourite and while he was in contention, he had no answer when William Buick pressed the ‘go' button over a furlong out and the further they went the further away he was going.

A giant of a horse the winner may take in the Dewhurst Stakes before he retires to winter quarters.