(UKPA)-36 minutes ago
Profound Beauty will face seven rivals as she bids for a first Group One success in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh.
Dermot Weld’s six-year-old is one of the leading fancies for the Melbourne Cup in November after winning three of her four starts this term.
She faces another possible challenger for the Australian prize as Jeremy Noseda’s Sans Frontieres bids to book his ticket to Flemington Park on his first outing at the highest level.
John Dunlop’s Tactic, who had Profound Beauty back in second in the Curragh Cup earlier this year, takes his chance again, while Godolphin field last year’s Doncaster St Leger runner-up Kite Wood, who will be ridden by Alan Munro for the first time.
Charlie Swan hands Rajik a tough step up in class following his Galway Listed success last time, while Aidan O’Brien sends both Flying Cross and Lady Lupus. The line-up is completed by ex-Japanese and 2006 Melbourne Cup runner up Pop Rock.
Pop Rock is now with Kildare-based Japanese trainer Takashi Kodama after connections decided to chase a slice of European glory.
Now nine, Pop Rock has also been placed in the Japan Cup in the past and enjoyed a successful entrance to Irish racing by winning at the Galway Festival.
Kodama explained: “He did his last piece of work with Mick Kinane on Wednesday morning and Mick was quite happy. Mr John Oxx will not be having a runner in the race and so we are fortunate to be able to have Fran Berry riding again.
“He is owned by a Japanese syndicate and the people want to have a runner a big European race. He is in good condition but we don’t expect too much – if he passes some horses then everybody will have a great day.”
As expected, Profound Beauty’s stablemate Rite Of Passage was taken out at the final declaration stage, while O’Brien’s Joshua Tree is another notable absentee and instead heads for the English equivalent at Doncaster.
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