Al Qareem Tackles Older Foes in Prix Royal-Oak

Although run over just two furlongs further than the Derby, the two St. Legers are the most likely source of future staying talent in Britain and Ireland.

France's nearest equivalent, the Oct. 23 Prix Royal-Oak (G1), is staged over virtually two miles, pitting established older stayers against the hardiest members of the Classic generation.

Four of the last five Royal-Oak winners were 3-year-olds and all bar Scope were toughened up throughout the season with repeated visits to the track. Technician ran eight times in 2019 before his Longchamp triumph and was followed by Subjectivist, who started seven times. Even French-trained Ice Breeze was making his eighth start of 2017.

On that particularly strong trend Al Qareem  looks the obvious starting point, with his narrow Oct. 1 Qatar Prix Chaudenay (G2) defeat of Sober  bringing his seasonal tally to three wins from eight starts for trainer Karl Burke and owners Nick Bradley Racing.

Sober looked at one stage to have gone a head up but the imposing Al Qareem, who was always traveling well, showed he had plenty of heart to go with his talent.

"(Al Qareem is) a talented stayer and I hope he can run really well," Burke said. "It was a great performance last time, Ryan Moore really liked him and he takes the ride again. He goes there with a great chance."

The other 3-year-old in the field is Dillian, who picked up a minor niggle on the eve of the Chester Vase and was forced to miss the rest of the summer while he recovered.

Whether he is seasoned enough for this test remains to be seen. Bell belatedly got Dillian to the track when fourth in Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot last month but he undoubtedly has ability after finishing not far behind the winner in last season's Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1).

Arguably the most interesting candidate among the older brigade is Iresine , who looked extremely classy when winning the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) on Arc Trials day.

Assuming Marie Velon gets the son of Manduro  to settle into a slower rhythm than he is used to over this longer trip, Iresine's turn of foot will be unlike anything most of his opposition have faced.

"We've done everything to have him in great shape and the ground should suit him, he likes it soft,"  said trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin of Iresine. "Obviously the trip is the question and you never know until you try. He's had a light year and won the Prix Foy brilliantly, albeit the beaten horses didn't advertise the form over Arc weekend."