Twilight Payment seeks Vintage performance

21 April, 2017

Twilight Payment takes on top stayer Order Of St George for a second time in the G3 Vintage Crop Stakes (16.55hrs local time) over a mile and three quarters at Navan, Ireland, on Sunday, April 23.

The two met over the same trip in the G3 Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh in August, when Twilight Payment stayed on well to take second, a length and a half behind Order Of St George.

Twilight Payment, a four-year-old son of Teofilo, ended last season with a comfortable half-length victory over Forgotten Rules in the Listed Loughbrown Stakes over two miles at the Curragh.

The Jim Bolger-trained colt, who is ridden as usual by Kevin Manning, has made one appearance so far this year, staying on to take second behind Torcedor in a 14-furlong conditions race on soft ground at Leopardstown on April 5.

As well as Order Of St George, his seven rivals in the Vintage Crop Stakes include both Forgotten Rules and Torcedor plus Listed scorer Red Stars.

Jim Bolger commented: "Twilight Payment is very well. He ran a good race last time out at Leopardstown on ground that wouldn't have suited him that well.

"We are expecting an improvement with better ground on Sunday."

Also on Sunday's card at Navan, three-year-old Lonhro filly Childhood (Willie McCreery/Billy Lee), a winner at five and six furlongs last year, steps up to Listed level for the Power Stakes (15.20hrs local time) over nearly six furlongs.