O'Brien Considers Galileo Chrome for St. Leger

Joseph O'Brien is leaning towards sending Galileo Chrome to the Pertemps St. Leger (G1) at Doncaster after the colt, who was a big market mover over the weekend, figured Sept. 7 among 15 entries for the final British classic of the season.

Unbeaten in three starts this season, Galileo Chrome was an impressive five-length winner of a listed race at Navan last month and could now have his sights raised to group 1 company on Saturday for the Leger, for which he is as short as 6-1 having been a 20-1 shot only days ago.

"We haven't fully made up our minds about where Galileo Chrome goes next but it's 60-40 that he goes for the St. Leger at Doncaster," O'Brien said on Monday. He has other options like the Irish St. Leger (G1) and France but we're seriously considering Doncaster. 

"He looked very good at Navan. Shane (Crosse) gave him a lovely, patient, and confident ride and he won very well. He won in the style of a horse who has earned a crack at a step up in class. The hope would be that, wherever he goes next, Shane will ride him."

O'Brien knows what it takes to win the St. Leger as a rider, scoring in 2013 aboard Leading Light for his father Aidan and, while he admits Galileo Chrome would need to find improvement, he says he has the profile of a horse who could handle the rise in class.

"You need a good horse to win a St. Leger and you need to stay," O'Brien explained. "It's a tough race but Galileo Chrome has an unexposed profile and there could be more to come.

"He's rated 110 so he still has to improve another 10 pounds to be competitive in a group 1 but he's looked good so far. He has to step up again."

There could be a strong Irish-trained contingent for the Doncaster classic, with Aidan O'Brien entering four contenders led by Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner Santiago.

Tiger Moth, who was second to Santiago at the Curragh, could also run, along with Dawn Patrol and Mythical. The Andrew Slattery-trained Sunchart could also travel from Ireland.

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur (G2) winner Pyledriver is vying for favoritism with Santiago, while other leading fancies Hukum and English King have also been entered.

Leopardstown could welcome the world's highest-rated racehorse this weekend, with reports suggesting Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes (G1) is under strong consideration for Ghaiyyath, the general 6-4 favorite.

A midweek piece of work could influence which direction connections take, with Ghaiyyath also featuring prominently in the betting for next month's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp. Champions day at Ascot and the Breeders' Cup World Championships could be other targets for the star 5-year-old later in the year.