DONCASTER ST LEGER:AIDAN O'BRIEN may be in pursuit of a fourth St Leger triumph at Doncaster this afternoon but the world's oldest Classic could also provide Irish jockey Fran Berry with the first ever Group One success of his career.
Michael Kinane’s decision to ride Alandi at the Curragh means Berry teams up with the John Oxx-trained Mourayan and he is hopeful of a big run from the Irish Derby third.
“I rode this horse in the Beresford last year when second to Sea The Stars. His run in the Irish Derby was very good and you would think the extra two and a half furlongs would suit,” Berry said yesterday.
“He’ll handle the ground fine although a bit more ease would suit.”
A similar comment applies to most of the other Classic runners, including Godolphin’s Kite Wood, although the O’Brien number one Changingoftheguard ran well on a quick surface when runner-up in the Ebor.
He attempts to follow in the footsteps of Ballydoyle’s previous winners, Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion in 2005.
Berry has ridden at Doncaster a number of times in the past, including in the Racing Post Trophy on Curtain Call. That horse provided him with his most significant success to date when winning the 2007 Beresford Stakes. Berry also teams up today with the Eddie Lynam-trained Duff in the Park Stakes over seven furlongs.
O’Brien landed last year’s Group Two Champagne Stakes with Westphalia and he runs three in the race this time with Johnny Murtagh on board the apparent first string Viscount Nelson.
The son of Giant’s Causeway and Imagine looks progressive and should relish the quick ground conditions after winning a Listed at Tipperary last time.
Poet’s progress has been spectacular in the last number of weeks and he is a significant runner in tomorrow’s Group Three Solonaway Stakes at the Curragh over a mile.
Aidan O’Brien nominated a race at Longchamp over Arc weekend for his next start after Poet won at Leopardstown last weekend so his quick reappearance here looks eye-catching.
Vocalised was expected to do better on his sprinting debut than he did behind Girouette last month but may be worth another shot in the Renaissance Stakes.
Listowel’s harvest festival begins tomorrow with the featured €35,000 Dawn Milk Handicap Chase. Ruby Walsh teams up with the returning Pearly Jack but preference could be for the topweight, Top Of The Rock, who should have no trouble with the soft ground conditions.
