Racing Ahead: Two St Legers and the Irish Champions Weekend
Author:
Roy Brindley
An outstanding weekend of horseracing lay ahead on either side of the Irish sea. The final classic of the British flat season, the St Leger, takes place at Doncaster on Saturday. In Ireland, Champions Weekend sees two meetings – at Leopardstown and the Curragh – offer €3.9 million in prize money. The racing encompasses six Group-1 contests and the last classic race of the Irish flat season.
New London is odds-on to give Charlie Appleby a second success in the Cazoo St Leger this weekend. @GettyImages
New London, representing Charlie Appleby, is the current odds-on favorite for the Cazoo St Leger. The trainer landed his first St Leger in 2021 with Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane. His stable has been in tremendous form throughout 2022 producing 32 percent winners-to-runners. New London has boosted those figures by winning four of his five-lifetime starts.
Two Group Races Supporting Doncaster Card
Doncaster’s St Leger card features two additional Group races. In the Coral Champagne Stakes, Appleby has three unbeaten horses amongst the early entries – Noble Style, Highbank and four-time winner Naval Power. They must give him an excellent chance of taking the contest for the third time.
Amongst the entries in the Park Stakes is Aldaary. The William Haggas-trained four-year-old has shown brilliance in his last two starts. But he would appear to be ground-dependent and probably needs rain to fall on the South Yorkshire track during the week.
Matron Is the Momma of Them All
Day one of Longines Irish Champion’s Weekend takes place at Leopardstown Racecourse. The card is co-headlined by the Group-1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish Champion Stakes ten times, including the past three editions. However, his hand is not strong in 2024. The French-trained Vadeni – winner of this season’s Eclipse Stakes and French Derby – heads the early betting lists of the best horse racing betting sites. Should Baaeed take up his entry, there is no doubt that star would start long odds-on. It is unlikely to happen.
The Matron Stakes has attracted a remarkable entry. The top five in its betting market have already won at Group-1 level this season. Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Homeless Songs, is the early favorite. Coronation Stakes winner, Inspiral, Prix Rothschild winner, Saffron Beach and Epsom Oaks winner, Tuesday, follow down the list.
There are three further Group races scheduled to be staged during the afternoon. Aidan O’Brien has an enormous entry in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes. Whichever youngsters he decides to run, they are likely to head the betting.
The Group-3 Paddy Power Stakes has a very competitive look ahead of its entries closing. But the Group-2 Boomerang Mile looks like a good opportunity for the improving British-trained Jadoomi.
Four Group-1s for the Curragh
Day two of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend sees the action move to the historic Curragh Racecourse. The venue plays host to all five Irish classics and the last of those, the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, is one of the four Group-1 races on the card.
Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup winner Kyprios is odds-on to take his fifth consecutive race by landing the Irish St Leger. Like its British counterpart, this race is staged over one-mile-six-furlongs, but it is not restricted to three-year-olds.
The Dubai Flying Five Stakes looks certain to have a strong British representation. But the home-trained Romantic Proposal is among the early entries. This six-year-old mare won this five-furlong contest 12 months ago.
Is a Classic Winner in Our Midst?
The Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes are a pair of Group-1 seven-furlong two-year-old contests that add further spice to the afternoon’s racing. These contests have produced numerous classic winners during the following season.
Sadly, a small ailment means Little Big Bear will miss the National Stakes. The best sports betting sites make him 4/1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas. But an impressive performance from Sunday’s winner could see that horse dislodged as the favorite for the first classic of the 2023 season.
Current 1000 Guineas favorite, Meditate, is amongst the entries for the Moyglare Stud Stakes. Already a three-time winner in Group-race company, she will attempt to give Aidan O’Brien his tenth success in this valuable contest.
