Sovereign to Face Intriguing Field in Irish St. Leger

The Sept. 13 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (G1) is not a big field, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality.

The presence of last year's winner, last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) winner, and this year's Sky Bet Ebor Handicap winner makes it a fascinating affair, and that's without the rapidly improving Comer Group International Curragh Cup (G2) winner Twilight Payment or the unexposed Micro Manage, who could be anything.

Half of the eight runners are rated 114 or higher, with the highest-rated Sovereign, who bids to give Aidan O'Brien his fourth victory in six years. He was a runaway winner of last year's Irish Derby and you would imagine this has been the plan all season.

The trip ought to be ideal and he was not disgraced in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) when chasing home the mighty Enable. It will be interesting to see whether Ryan Moore lets him roll in front, just as Padraig Beggy did in last year's Irish Derby.

"Sovereign had a great run in the King George and is back up in trip. He ran over this trip before the King George, but he was only ready to start back then, and he got a little bit tired. We're very happy with him," O'Brien said.

Fujaira Prince is 6, but the best may still be to come. He has only visited a racecourse eight times, winning five of those and being placed in the other three. He justified favoritism in the Ebor with a degree of authority and the manner in which he won a handicap at Royal Ascot suggested he was a group 1 winner in waiting. This is his big chance.

"He usually does not take his races very well but he's been flying at home and I think his win in the Ebor has brought him on," trainer Roger Varian said. "It's a big step from a handicap to a group 1 but the trip and track should suit him and we're hopeful he can run a nice race."

Search For A Song was brilliant in this race last year, but she has yet to show the same sort of form this season. Perhaps running over shorter trips has not suited and this is the first time she has tried the mile and three-quarters since the race 12 months ago.

"She's in great form, is very well, and she's ready to run for her life," said trainer Dermot Weld. "Her (third-place) run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) was excellent—she showed a lot of pace and a lot of speed to be third that day. I'm very happy with her."

Twilight Payment has made giant strides since joining Joseph O'Brien and can never be underestimated, but perhaps class will prevail and Sovereign will show his true colors. That Irish Derby demolition job remains fresh in the memory.

"He's been very progressive all year and won very well the last twice," said the younger O'Brien. "We're hoping for a big run in what will be his biggest test to date. He will need a career-best to win."