16:40 Curragh

Sunday 13 September 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:1517:50

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

Off time: 16:49 | Winning time: 3m 6.5s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(8)

Barbados^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 106

33/1

Smart colt. 4/1, returned to form back up in trip when 3½ lengths second of 8 to Master of Reality in listed race at Down Royal (14f, soft) 9 days ago. Likely to strruggle in this, however.

Form: 40-5232

(4)

Fujaira Prince²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 114| D

3/1

Back from a year off with a bang when impressive winner of Copper Horse at Royal Ascot in June, his first attempt over 1¾m and improved further 9 weeks on to land Sky Bet Ebor. Respected.

Form: 1/123-11

(3)

Micro Manage³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: C T Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 107| C

8/1

Course winner last year and confirmed himself as a smart stayer when 2½ lengths third of 8 to Delphi in Irish St Leger Trial at this C&D (good to soft, 5/1) 30 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 01/1-3

(5)

Raa Atoll⁴⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: C D Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 108

150/1

Winner of a Group 2 at Hoppegarten on return/debut for new connections in May 2019. Not disgraced when third in Curragh Cup when last seen 14 months ago, but looks out of his depth in this company.

Form: 147/163-

(2)

Sovereign⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117| C

5/2

Shock all-the-way winner of 2019 Irish Derby, 6 lengths too good for stablemate Anthony Van Dyck. Ran up to best when second to Enable in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he's a player.

Form: 2301-32

(6)

Twilight Payment^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: W M Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 115| CD

9/2

Very smart gelding. 3-time C&D winner. Career best when winning 6-runner Curragh Cup at this C&D (good to soft, 8/15) 57 days ago by 8 lengths from Master of Reality, easily. Not taken lightly.

Form: 70-7211

(7)

Search For A Song^h⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 115| CD

7/1

Very smart filly who landed this event in 2019 and not at all disgraced over inadequate trip when third to Magical in Tattersalls Gold Cup here (10f) 49 days ago. Firmly in the mix.

Form: 411-6P3

(1)

Passion²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| D

6/1

Smart filly. 7/2, career best when winning 8-runner Stanerra Stakes at Naas (14f, soft) 21 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Traisha, suited by increase in trip. Sole 3-y-o in the line up not ruled out.

Form: 435331

Forecasts

Sovereign (5/2), Fujaira Prince (3/1), Twilight Payment (9/2), Passion (6/1), Search For A Song (7/1), Micro Manage (8/1), Barbados (33/1), Raa Atoll (150/1)

Aidan O'Brien has a superb record in this contest and his SOVEREIGN is taken to enhance it further following his runner-up effort to Enable in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. All roads lead to the Melbourne Cup for Twilight Payment and he's the main danger to the selection on paper, ahead of last year's winner Search For A Song.