It is half a century since an Irish-trained winner of Doncaster's Ladbrokes St Leger that didn't emerge from Ballydoyle, but David Wachman hopes to bridge that gap in the world's oldest classic this Saturday with Galileo Rock.
Third in the Epsom Derby, and runner-up in the Irish Derby, Galileo Rock’s bid for classic glory at the third time of asking remains on track according to his Co Tipperary- based handler and he has been installed a 4-1 co-favourite for the big race by the sponsors.
“He has to work during the week, but we’re happy with him and Wayne (Lordan) rides again,” Wachman said yesterday. “Saddler’s Rock, his three-parts brother stays well, and our horse stays a mile and a half well, so we have to be hopeful he’ll stay, although you never know until they try it.”
A total of 14 horses remain in the Leger after yesterday’s forfeit stage, including the Oaks heroine Talent and Libertarian who was runner up in June’s Epsom Derby, but a flop in the Curragh equivalent.
However, it is Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Leading Light, one of three Ballydoyle entries alongside the Great Voltigeur runner-up Foundry and Eye Of The Storm, who is rated alongside Galileo Rock and John Gosden’s Excess Knowledge at the top of the betting.
Major disappointment
O'Brien has three Leger wins to his credit already, with Scorpion in 2005 the last of them, but endured major disappointment last year when Camelot's Triple Crown bid became unstuck behind Encke.
The previous Ballydoyle incumbent, Vincent O’Brien, also had three Leger wins during his legendary career and the only other Irish-trained winner of the famous race since the War was Paddy Prendergast’s Ragusa in 1963.
Ground conditions look like remaining on the fast side at Doncaster during the week which is good news for Galileo Rock, bred and owned by the controversial Cork developer, Michael O’Flynn, and the potential first leg of a possible Group One double for Wachman this weekend with the Phoenix Stakes hero Sudirman due to reappear in Sunday’s National Stakes at the Curragh.
“He too will have to work during the week, but if we’re happy with him the Curragh is the plan,” Wachman added.
Ladbrokes go 4-5 about an Irish-trained horse emerging best at Doncaster, a day before the Irish Leger is run at the Curragh. Irish racing’s HQ also races on Saturday though and the featured Group Two Lanwades Stud Blandford Stakes could see an international clash between some highly-rated fillies, 20 of whom were left in at yesterday’s five-day stage, including the highly rated, but seldom seen Alive Alive Oh.
Owned by JP McManus’s daughter, Sue-Ann Foley, Alive Alive Oh hasn’t run since early May when impressively scoring at Navan, and since then has missed out on the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Irish Oaks due to unsuitably fast ground conditions and on the Pretty Polly Stakes in late June due to being in season.
Really thrived
The Blandford is also an option for Venus De Milo, runner up to The Fugue in the Yorkshire Oaks, although Aidan O'Brien warned yesterday: "Venus De Milo is also engaged in a French Group One race at the weekend and we will make a decision about where she goes later in the week."
Also left in the Blandford is Saturday’s Matron Stakes heroine La Collina, as well as Lady Cecil’s Hot Snap, beaten on her first at Goodwood since starting favourite for the 1,000 Guineas in May.
Conditions at the Curragh yesterday were “good” on the straight course and ‘good to firm’ on the round track.
