Trainer Dermot Weld is "very hopeful" that Vinnie Roe can land an unprecedented fourth successive victory in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh tomorrow.
The six-year-old has dominated the €168,600 Group One contest since first taking the 14-furlong showpiece in 2001, when he beat Millenary. Wins over Pugin in 2002 and Gamut last year saw him become the first horse to lift the Classic three times.
He was last seen in action at Leopardstown in August, when he finished second to Foreign Affairs in the Listed Ballyroan Stakes.
"Vinnie Roe is very well and we are very hopeful. No excuse, the ground is perfect," said Weld today.
The going at the Curragh is described as good on the round course and good to yielding on the straight track. Vinnie Roe, 2-1 favourite, will be accompanied by his stable companion Media Puzzle.
The seven-year-old won the 2002 Melbourne Cup but was off the track after that until finishing fifth of six in a 10-furlong Group Two race at the Curragh last month.
Aidan O'Brien has a three-strong team headed by last year's Doncaster St Leger hero Brian Boru, who will be ridden by Jamie Spencer. He will be accompanied to post by Napoleon and Two Miles West, the only three-year-olds in the 14-strong field.
There are six British raiders in the line-up and former top jockey Joe Mercer believes Dubai Success has a good chance of "being in the money". Mercer, champion jockey in 1979, is racing manager to Maktoum Al Maktoum, owner of the Barry Hills-trained five-year-old.
"Dubai Success is in great form - the softer the ground the better, but it doesn't look an easy competition," he said. "On his early-spring form he'd have a great chance of being in the money and I think if the ground remains really soft, he would have a big shout.
"Barry's horses are beginning to strike form. They were off for a long time, so we'll see."