The year's top stayer Yeats has been installed a red-hot 1 to 3 favourite to complete Aidan O'Brien's haul of Irish classics in Saturday's Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh.
Winner of the Ascot and Goodwood Cups this season, Yeats is the stand out entry among the 11 left in the Leger at yesterday's forfeit stage and he could be joined by his three-year-old stable companion, Puerto Rico.
"The plan is to run in the Irish Leger. But a decision about the Melbourne Cup won't be made until after the Curragh," said O'Brien. "The Prix du Cadran could be a possibility if he didn't go to Melbourne."
Yeats is a 10 to 1 favourite for the Australian feature in November despite being allocated top-weight in the race. However, his first target will be to secure a historic home Leger triumph for his 36-year-old trainer.
Alexandrova's easy Oaks triumph in July means the Leger is the only Irish classic O'Brien has yet to win.
Four wins apiece in both the Derby and the 2,000 Guineas, as well as three in the 1,000 Guineas, mean that Yeats could make it a very lucky 13 for the champion trainer on Saturday.
O'Brien completed the collection of British classics last year when Virginia Waters landed the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Three cross-channel trained entries remain in the Leger including last year's runner-up, The Whistling Teal, who was a length in front of the unlucky in running Yeats on that occasion.
The Whistling Teal is joined by the former Epsom Derby placed Percussionist and Frank Sonata while Kastoria will attempt to secure a third Leger triumph for John Oxx after Petite Ille (1989) and Eurobird (1987.)
There is some uncertainty about the going conditions for the weekend.
The ground on the St Leger course is currently "good to firm" with the straight track at the Curragh described as "good". "The forecast is mixed with some showers expected Tuesday and the possibility of rain later in the week," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey. "It's difficult to predict so we are going to wait and see what the situation is as regards watering."
O'Brien's full sister to Rock Of Gibraltar, the Tralee winner Nell Gwyn, is one of 24 entries for the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes where Dermot Weld has also left in the beaten Moyglare favourite Supposition for the race named after his father.
The top English sprinter Benbaun could return to the Curragh for the Group Three Ballygallon Stud Renaissance Stakes after winning at the track last time out under Pat Smullen.
David Wachman's Rabatash, an impressive winner of the Group Three Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh on his last start, could attempt a step up to Group Two level at Newbury on Saturday in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs. Rabatash and the Aidan O'Brien-trained maiden Facchetti are the Irish entries in a race which also features the Prix Morny-placed Excellent Art and Doctor Brown who landed the valuable St Leger Sales race for Brian Meehan.
Meanwhile, Kevin Prendergast says he will give Mustameet another attempt at a Group One race after the horse was beaten just four lengths by Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last Saturday.
Cashmans betting: 1-3 Yeats, 8 Kastoria, 14 Frank Sonata, Percussionist, Puerto Rico & The Whistling Teal 20 Fracas & Akarem 25 Menwaal, 200 Chimes at Midnight 500 Fuerta Ventura
