Classic heroes and stablemates Kew Gardens and Capri clash in Irish St Leger

4.10 Curragh
Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1) | 3yo+ | 1m6f | RTE2/RTV

Kew Gardens heads Ballydoyle battalion

A St Leger hero at Doncaster a year ago, Kew Gardens will be tasked with adding the Comer Group International Irish St Leger to his CV when he heads a four-strong team from Ballydoyle in the Curragh Classic.

Aidan O’Brien has sent out five winners of the race while Ryan Moore will be bidding for a third consecutive win in the race and although Kew Gardens has raced only twice this season, O’Brien believes he is ready for the test.

A dual Group 1 winner, Kew Gardens has not been seen since finishing second to Defoe in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June.

O’Brien said: "Kew Gardens had a little hold-up after Epsom. It took a while for him to come right but he’s in good form and we’re happy with him."

Kew Gardens (left): not seen since finishing second in the Coronation CupCredit: Andrew Redington (Getty Images)

Capri is also a St Leger winner. He won the Doncaster Classic two years ago but has not won since April 2018 and finished fourth in the Irish St Leger Trial over this course and distance on his most recent start last month.

"He ran well last time and we think he has come forward since," O’Brien said of the five-year-old, who will have Padraig Beggy on board for the first time.

Southern France, who won last month's trial, is the mount of Seamie Heffernan who was successful on Septimus in 2008.

Southern France: has been purchased by Australian owners to run in the Melbourne CupCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said: "All has gone well with him since his win last time. He has been sold to Australian owners and is an intended runner in the Melbourne Cup."

Cypress Creek, tailed off in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on his most recent start, is blinkered for the first time.

Could Cross Counter return to winning ways?

Last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup winner landed the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March before finishing behind the mighty Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup.

Godolphin have won the Irish St Leger with Kayf Tara in 1998 and 1999 and trainer Charlie Appleby is looking forward to a big run from William Buick’s mount.

Cross Counter: very consistent this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "Cross Counter has been ultra-consistent this season and we aren't concerned with the drop back in trip.

"He's not short of pace and broke the track record over a mile and a half around Goodwood last year. If he can reproduce the level of form he has shown so far this season he'll be a major player."

Can Joseph O'Brien's trio figure?

Joseph O’Brien, who won the race as a jockey on Order Of St George in 2015, is represented by Latrobe, Master Of Reality and Twilight Payment, all owned by Lloyd Williams and all entered in the Melbourne Cup.

Last year's Irish Derby winner Latrobe achieved his first success since that Classic win when landing the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes under regular partner Donnacha O’Brien at Leopardstown last month.

Twilight Payment (left) and Latrobe (white cap) face off again in the Irish St LegerCredit: Patrick McCann

Andrea Atzeni partners Master Of Reality, who produced his best performance when third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, while Twilight Payment, the mount of Kevin Manning, beat Latrobe by a neck in the Group 2 Curragh Cup over course and distance in June. He will be having his first run for O’Brien having been bought out of Jim Bolger's yard.

O’Brien said: "Latrobe is in good shape and we’ve been happy with him since his Leopardstown win. Master Of Reality had a break after Royal Ascot and ran well in the Irish Leger Trial on his return last month. Twilight Payment has good form and is a very straightforward horse.

"We’ll see how things go and talk things over with the owners before making any Melbourne Cup plans."

Can Kirk strike with Salouen?

The last time the Irish St Leger went back to Britain for export was in 2014 following Brown Panther’s victory and Salouen will be bidding to do the same this time around.

Third in the Coronation Cup and fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on his two previous attempts at Group 1 level this year, Salouen represents Sylvester Kirk.

Salouen: steps up to 1m6fCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The trainer said: "He’s in great form and travelled over well. We could have done with a bit more rain but it would be nice to see him run his usual consistent race.

"I’ve been keen to step him up to 1m6f for a long time now and this race has been on the cards. Hopefully, they’ll get some rain to take any sting out of the ground."

Will Search For A Song stay the distance?

Search For A Song, who won the Galtres Stakes at York last month, will be attempting to become the first three-year-old filly to win the race since Petite Ile scored for John Oxx 30 years ago. She is the sole three-year-old in the race.

Her trainer Dermot Weld has won the race seven times, most recently with Voleuse De Coeurs in 2013. Chris Hayes rode that filly to victory and will be hoping to score again aboard the Moyglare Stud-owned Search For A Song, who finished fourth in the Irish Oaks on just her third start in July.

Chris Hayes, who rides Search For A Song, was successful in the race in 2013 aboard Voleuse De CoeursCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Weld said: "Search For A Song will be going the distance for the first time and will also be taking on males for the first time, so it will be a big test. She’s a very good filly and ground is very important to her. She bounces off top of the ground."

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