Mutafaweq may run in St Leger

Michael Stoute's powerful stable is unlikely to be represented and the Godolphin team are employing wait-and-see tactics with Mutafaweq, but one confirmed English raider for Saturday's Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger is last year's runner-up Yavana's Pace.

The Mark Johnston-trained runner, eight lengths behind Kayf Tara last year, will attempt to go one better in the last Irish classic of the season even though there is concern at the Johnston yard about reports of a possible port blockade in this country.

"It's not exactly what we want to hear but the plan is to run him, providing we can get him over there," said Johnston's wife Deirdre yesterday. Another complication, however, is finding a jockey for the former Irish-trained horse.

"The big Ayr meeting is on over here and so is the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, so we haven't finalised jockey plans just yet," Mrs Johnston added before reporting Saturday's Doncaster winner, Down To The Woods, a likely runner in Sunday's Aga Khan Studs National Stakes.

"We will certainly leave him in the race for the time being. A lot will depend on the going. He won't run if it's as soft as it was the last time he ran at the Curragh (Futurity Stakes)," she said.

Mark Johnston is currently at the sales in Keeneland, as are many in the Godolphin team but a spokesperson confirmed yesterday that if they are to have a runner in the race it will be the 1999 Doncaster St Leger winner, Mutafaweq.

The horse, who beat Ramruma at Doncaster last year, has had a less profitable time this term, flopping in Germany last time, but he did run third to Montjeu in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last May. Godolphin have won the last two renewals of the Irish Leger with Kayf Tara.

A spokesperson for the Stoute yard confirmed they are unlikely to have a runner despite the presence in the entries of the Princess Of Wales's Stakes winner, Little Rock, and the Coronation Cup victor, Daliapour.

James Fanshawe has already confirmed Arctic Owl a runner in the race, and John Dunlop's Orchestra Stall is a possible if there is soft ground at the Curragh. Of the home team, Katiykha has been confirmed a runner by John Oxx, who has won the Irish Leger twice before with fillies, Petite Ile in 1989 and Eurobird in 1987. Oxx's Enzeli was a disappointing fourth in the Leger last year but sidesteps the race this time in favour of Longchamp's Prix du Cadran.

Kevin Prendergast has won the race four times, including twice with Oscar Schindler (1996-97), and he is set to be represented by Dutch Harrier; while Quality Team, who now races in the colours of the race sponsor Michael Smurfit, is set to be the Dermot Weld runner.

The National Stakes, won last year by Sinndar, will be the Sunday highlight at headquarters but it's doubtful if John Oxx will attempt a follow up this time. However, Darwin remains a likely runner for Aidan O'Brien in the Group One contest.

Brian Meehan's Prix Morny winner, Bad As I Wanna Be, is a probable runner in Saturday's Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp, where he will take on Hemingway, who in yesterday's edition was reported to be a brother to the top three-year-old Giant's Causeway. The colt is, in fact, a half brother to Second Empire.

Sinndar was yesterday reported to have returned from France in fine form following his impressive eight-length victory in the Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday. "He's fine. He's in good form. He travelled home well, he ate up last night and he was fresh and well this morning," said his trainer, John Oxx.

However, Sinndar still has something to find for the Arc if he is to beat Montjeu, who is rated 135, according to the British Horseracing Board's senior handicapper, Nigel Gray.

"Sinndar went into the Niel rated 128, more than a stone superior to his opponents, but he couldn't have been more impressive. He is still rated 128, so strictly speaking he has a little to find with Montjeu.

"But often it's only when three-year-olds meet older horses that you can get a proper benchmark. It's certainly building up into an exciting contest."