Leading Light Heads 11 for Irish St. Leger
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Leading Light, unbeaten in three starts this season, heads a field of 11 for the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger (Ire-I) Sept. 14 at the Curragh. The 1 3/4-mile race is one of three group I events on the card.
Sunday's card also includes two major races for the 2-year-olds: Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-I) and Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) for fillies, both at seven furlongs.
Leading Light's 2014 record includes a defeat of Queen Elizabeth II's Estimate in the Gold Cup (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the son of Montjeu scored a classic success last year in the Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I) at Doncaster. He enters Sunday's race after defeating the 2012 Irish St. Leger victor Royal Diamond in the Irish St. Leger Trial (Ire-III) Aug. 24 at the Curragh.
"He seems to have come out of his prep race at the Curragh really well," said Joseph O'Brien, who has the mount on Leading Light. "He idled in front that day but always does and won nicely. Ground or trip is not a massive problem for him. He is an uncomplicated horse and I can ride him handy or take my time and that makes my job very easy."
Aidan O'Brien also sends out recent Ballyroan Stakes (Ire-I) winner Eye of The Storm, who returns after finishing fifth as the favorite in the American St. Leger Aug. 16 at Arlington International Racecourse.
Trainer Dermot Weld, who captured the Irish St. Leger last year with Voleuse De Coeurs, has Pale Mimosa for ta race he is seeking to win for the eighth time. He previously enjoyed wins with Vintage Crop and Vinnie Roe.
Royal Diamond seeks a second win in the race as he tries to halt a three-race winless stretch since his victory in the 2013 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Eng-III) last October at Ascot.
Among other contenders is Godolphin's Encke, the 2012 Doncaster St. Leger winner, and multiple group- winning stayer Brown Panther, co-owned by former English soccer star Michael Owen.
A field of five is set for the National Stakes with O'Brien's Galileo E.B.F. Futurity (Ire-II) victor Gleneagles bidding for a fourth successive win. Among the challengers is trainer Jim Bolger's Hall of Fame, who a close third in that race.
Ten fillies are entered for the Moyglare Stud Stakes with supplementary entry Found one of four runners for O'Brien, who is bidding for his seventh success in the race. A daughter of Galileo, Found won her debut Aug. 23 at the Curragh and takes a huge step up Sunday. The Ballydoyle quartet is completed by I Am Beautiful, Qualify, and Simply A Star.
Bolger has won the Moyglare Stud Stakes on three occasions and runs his recent Debutante Stakes (Ire-II) runner-up Lucida. Kevin Prendergast has four wins in the race and is represented by Debutante runner-up Beach Belle, who was fourth against males in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) two weeks prior to that.
The Moyglare Stud Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" series and provides the winner with a fees-paid, automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) this fall at Santa Anita Park.
Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger (Ire-I), 3YO&Up, 1 3/4 miles, the Curragh
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 11. Achtung (GB) (Montjeu), G. Carroll, 137, L. Comer
2. 5. Brown Panther (GB) (Shirocco), R. Kingscote, 137, T. Dascombe
3. 2. Certerach (IRE) (Halling), S. Foley, 137, M. Halford
4. 7. Encke (GB) (Kingmambo), A. Kirby, 137, C. Appleby
5. 3. Eye of The Storm (IRE) (Galileo), C. O'Donoghue, 137, A. O'Brien
6. 10. Leading Light (IRE) (Montjeu), J. O'Brien, 137, A. O'Brien
7. 6. Pallasator (GB) (Motivator), A. Atzeni, 137, M. Prescott
8. 8. Royal Diamond (IRE) (King's Best), N. McCullagh, 137, J. Murtagh
9. 1. Willing Foe (KY) (Dynaformer) F. Berry , 137, S. bin Suroor
10. 4. Pale Mimosa (IRE) (Singspiel), P. Smullen, 134, D. Weld
11. 9. Shu Lewis (IRE) (Pyrus), J. Heffernan, 134, M. Blake
Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (Ire-I), 2YO, 7f., the Curragh
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 1. Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art), G. Baker, C . Hills
2. 5. Gleneagles (IRE) (Galileo), J. O'Brien, A. O'Brien
3. 4. Hall Of Fame (IRE) (Teofilo), K. Manning, J. Bolger
4. 3. Toscanelli (IRE) (Galileo), J. Heffernan, A. O'Brien
5. 2. Toscanini (IRE) (Shamardal), S. Foley, M. Halford
All to carry 129 pounds.
Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I), 2YO, fillies, 7f. the Curragh
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 9. Beach Belle (GB) (Invincible Spirit), C. Hayes, K. Prendergast
2. 8. Cursory Glance (KY) (Distorted Humor), A. Atzeni, R. Varian
3. 6. Found (IRE) (Galileo), J. O'Brien, A. O'Brien
4. 5. I Am Beautiful (IRE) (Rip Van Winkle), C. O'Donoghue, A. O'Brien
5. 1. Jeanne Girl (IRE) (Rip Van Winkle), G. McCullagh, J. Harrington
6. 2. Lucida (IRE) (Shamardal), K. Manning, J. Bolger
7. 3. Malabar (GB) (Raven's Pass), M. Harley, M. Channon
8. 4. Osaila (IRE) (Danehill Dancer), P. Smullen, R. Hannon
9. 10. Qualify (IRE) (Raven's Pass), M. Hussey, A. O'Brien
10. 7. Simply A Star (IRE) (Giant's Causeway), J. Heffernan, A. O'Brien
All to carry 126 pounds.