RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:AIDAN O'BRIEN dominates the line-up for tomorrow's Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, with Zoffany leading a four-strong assault.
The Dansili colt has bounced back from Royal Ascot disappointment by claiming Listed and Group Three events at Leopardstown, before striking at the highest level in the Phoenix Stakes last time.
Zoffany is set to be joined by Futurity Stakes third, fourth and fifth Samuel Morse, High Ruler and Rudolf Valentino.
Futurity winner Pathfork represents Jessica Harrington as he bids to add to his Group Two success.
Jim Bolger’s Glor Na Mara, runner-up in the Phoenix and Futurity, will be trying to bounce back following another narrow defeat last time.
Godolphin field Washington Singer winner Janood, while Michael Halford’s Casamento and Dermot Weld’s A Word Apart complete the list of contenders.
In the other Group One event, Profound Beauty will face seven rivals as she bids for success in the Irish Field St Leger.
Dermot Weld’s six-year-old is one of the leading fancies for the Melbourne Cup in November after winning three of her four starts this term.
She faced another possible challenger for the Australian prize as Jeremy Noseda’s Sans Frontieres bids to book his ticket to Flemington Park on his first outing at the highest level.
John Dunlop’s Tactic, who had Profound Beauty back in second in the Curragh Cup earlier this year, takes his chance again, while Godolphin field last year’s Doncaster St Leger runner-up Kite Wood, who will be ridden by Alan Munro for the first time.
Charlie Swan hands Rajik a tough step up in class following his Galway Listed success last time, while O’Brien sends both Flying Cross and Lady Lupus.
The line-up is completed by ex-Japanese and 2006 Melbourne Cup runner-up Pop Rock.
The drying ground at Doncaster has enabled Ed Dunlop to declare Snow Fairy for tomorrow’s English St Leger.
The dual Oaks winner’s participation had been in some doubt in the lead-up to the race, and after 25mm of rain on Monday evening prospects were not looking good.
However, the Town Moor venue has since been dry and at declaration time yesterday Snow Fairy’s name was there alongside the red-hot favourite, Rewilding, and eight others.
With Ryan Moore, who was in the saddle for both of Snow Fairy’s Oaks victories, claimed by Michael Stoute to ride Total Command, Eddie Ahern comes in for the mount.
Godolphin’s Rewilding finished a promising third in the Derby and backed that up with an easy victory in the Great Voltigeur at York.
With Sheikh Mohammed’s operation having saddled the first two home last year, they will have big hopes of keeping the prize.
James Given’s progressive Dandino takes his chance for the Elite Racing Club, while Arctic Cosmos, just behind Dandino at Goodwood, represents John Gosden and his wife, Rachel Hood.
O’Brien runs Midas Touch (Colm O’Donoghue) and Joshua Tree (Jamie Spencer), who were second and third respectively in the Voltigeur.
Mark Johnston saddles Corsica, Jeremy Noseda will be represented by Theology, while Chester Vase winner Ted Spread will be one slightly inconvenienced by the drying ground.
The only two withdrawals were the O’Brien stablemates Bright Horizon and Flying Cross.
A fascinating clash is on the cards in Sunday’s Prix Vermeille at Longchamp as 12 fillies have been declared.
Round five of the Sariska and Midday series is the headline act, but the supporting cast is not too shabby either.
Sariska held a 3-0 lead heading into the Yorkshire Oaks, but blotted her copybook when refusing to come out of the stalls.
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