Fame And Glory is likely to be Aidan O’Brien’s representative in the Group One Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger in which 18 horses have stood their ground following today’s entry stage. O’Brien, who has landed this race twice before with Yeats and Septimus, has also left Robin Hood, Treasure Beach and Offer in Saturday’s race.
The County Tipperary based trainer also confirmed that he and his son Joseph will dash back from Doncaster by helicopter to the Curragh for the twin Group One features at the Co Kildare venue on Saturday. Should Camelot land the Triple Crown at Doncaster a few hours earlier by landing the English St Leger, team Ballydoyle can be assured of a rousing reception at the home of the Irish Classic’s.
“It is an ambitious plan but we have everything in place to make it back to the Curragh for both big Group 1 races” said Aidan O’Brien.
Dermot Weld has a terrific record in this contest having landed it with Vinnie Roe (four times) and Vintage Crop (twice) and the Curragh-based trainer will be represented this time around with the highly talented Sapphire. The progressive Ursa Major or Royal Diamond will represent trainer Tommy Carmody, while there are three likely overseas challengers in Aiken, Brown Panther owned in partnership by soccer legend Michael Owen and Lost In The Moment.
The Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien Stakes has star quality written all over it with the unbeaten Dawn Approach among the 18 horses left in the race. His trainer Jim Bolger has also left Trading Leather, Wexford Opera and Sunday’s Curragh scorer Leitir Mor in the race, while AidanO’Brien list of entries is lead by Mars and Cristoforo Colombo
Mark Johnston’s Heavy Metal and the Mick Channon-trained Ayaar are the sole British challengers, while Imperial Concorde (Dermot Weld) and Mooqtar (Kevin Prendergast) are two other horses well worth a mention.
The race day will also feature a number of notable guests from the world of sport including Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor who will be joined by his Aga Khan Cup winning team mate Clem McMahon, family representatives of Darragh Kerins and Richie Moloney as well as Irish Chef D’Equipe Robert Splaine as guests of Gain Horse Feeds
Irish St Leger and Melbourne Cup hero Vintage Crop will make his annual appearance at the Curragh before the runners for the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger enter the parade ring and the Melbourne Cups won by Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle will be on display to promote the links between the Irish St Leger and Emirates Melbourne Cup.
It is also Bollinger Bond Day with a James Bond theme to the fashion and style element of the day to promote the release of the new James Bond movie Skyfall, which is due for release in October.
A celebrity panel of judges including Kirsteen O’Sullivan of TV3’s Xpose, television presenter Darren Kennedy, Elaine Prenderville of VIP Magazine and former supermodel and now television presenter Alison Canavan will be present to give their expertise as they look for the overall most Stylish ladies and men on the day. Prizes includes a VIP night in Dublin to include 2 tickets to the premiere of the new James Bond movie Skyfall and a bottle of delicious Bollinger champagne
The winner of the “Bolly Best Hat” competition will also receive a spectacular prize for leading milliner Tahnee Morgan