YEATS MAY be the marquee name ahead of this Saturday’s final Irish Classic of the 2009 season at the Curragh but it could also be a final home start for Profound Beauty ahead of a tilt at November’s Melbourne Cup.
Dermot Weld’s mare finished fifth in last year’s Flemington highlight but is rated a 10 to 1 favourite in some ante-post lists to add to her trainer’s remarkable Australian record.
Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle (2002) re-wrote the history books in Australia’s most famous race and Weld has been targeting a hat-trick attempt ever since Profound Beauty’s fine effort last season. “I’m happy with her. She has won three Group races this year and the weight she has is fair,” he said yesterday. “It’s one of the toughest races in the world to win. But she is a year older and tougher and if she gets the rub of the green she’ll run a good race.”
Ground conditions permitting, Yeats is likely to head the entries remaining in the €275,000 Irish Field St Leger at today’s declaration stage as he attempts to repeat his 2007 Leger triumph.
The Phoenix Stakes winner Alfred Nobel is an intended starter in Saturday’s other Group One event, the €250,000 Ladbrokes Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, with trainer Aidan O’Brien pursuing an eighth victory in the race.
One Cool Cat (2003), George Washington (2005) and Mastercraftsman completed the Phoenix-National double for Ireland’s champion trainer in the past.
Clonmel, if it passes an 8.30am inspection, is set to host last Thursday’s re-scheduled card this evening and even with topweight Armaramak still looks a decent bet in the two-mile handicap. Edward O’Grady’s horse carried an even greater load on his back at Killarney when coming up three-quarters of a length short of Fingers.
Mutakarrim has been a wonderful servant to the Weld team and after two starts this season the veteran could be up to repeating his 2008 triumph in the opening mile and a quarter claimer. Fearnwood Girl put up a decent performance on testing ground at Sligo last month and with similar conditions likely Peter Casey’s horse may represent a touch of value in the 10-furlong handicap.
