St Leger preview: Aidan O'Brien's weekend Group One net stretches from Leopardstown to York, and on to Longchamp tomorrow, but the champion trainer will have a four-strong team in today's St Leger as he attempts a fourth win since 2001 in the world's oldest classic.
It's somewhat ironic that the most commercially minded stable in world racing should have such a good record in what has sadly become something of an after-thought in prestige terms but that won't matter to Seamus Heffernan who is confident of his chances on board Tusculum.
For a horse who couldn't make the weight grade in the Ebor, Tusculum's progress in the last month has been impressive and Heffernan was in charge when the horse won a listed at the Curragh last time out.
"He was impressive and I think he could be coming to himself at exactly the right time. If Sixties Icon doesn't perform, I'd fancy my chances," said Heffernan, who will have his first St Leger ride. Sixties Icon (Frankie Dettori) looks to have very sound claims based on a Gordon Stakes victory but Jeremy Nosead's yard doesn't appear to be firing on all cylinders and the Voltigeur runner-up Red Rocks could be a bigger danger to the Irish team.
Colm O'Donoghue, who is on board the lightly-raced Fire And Rain, said: "It was a good run in the Voltiguer to finish sixth after such a long time off and Aidan's horses usually improve from one run to the next."
Heffernan will ride the O'Brien hope Eagle Mountain in the Group Two Champagne Stakes while the other Irish runner at York today is the Meld Stakes winner King Jock (Pat Shanahan) who goes in the Group Two Park Stakes.
Fermion, a listed winner at Newbury on her previous start, will take her chance in the Group One Prix Vermille at Longchamp tomorrow. Her 10 opponents include the John Dunlop-trained Time On. Kieren Fallon, at Longchamp to ride Hurricane Run in the Prix Foy and Papal Bull in the Prix Niel, will also be on board the O'Brien-trained filly.
