Teenage kicks as Banner claims Limerick's Leger for McAuliffe

DROMBEG BANNER (20/1) followed Juvenile Derby champion Getup The Boy 24 hours earlier as a shock winner of a Classic when just holding Flight Club to land the  €30,000 Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St Leger over 550 yards at Limerick.

In doing so, the November 2022 son of Explosive Boy and Hazelfield Echo ensured that 18-year-old Evan McAuliffe emulated Daniel O'Rahilly, then 17, who claimed last year's Kirby Memorial at the track with Knockeen Dazzler, as a teenage winner of a Limerick major event.

There was an early indication that the Leger final might not go to script when favourite Hello Diego, who was never a factor throughout, fluffed his lines at the start, while treble-seeking Clonbrien Treaty was only moderately away before pacing up to turn second.

Conversely, Drombeg Banner had taken a flyer and was in control with Clonbrien Treaty never quite looking like getting to him as hard as he tried.

Ultimately, it was Flight Club who threw down the big challenge as he flew late on the outside but the evidence of the camera showed that Drombeg Banner had held on by a short-head in 29.57sec with Blastoff Heffo third and Clonbrien Treaty tiring late on into fourth.

“This is a dream come true,” McAuliffe said after the race. “To win the Irish St Leger at 18 is something I’ll never forget. I’m incredibly proud of Drombeg Banner, he gave absolutely everything.”