The Irish Classics were a bit of a damp squib - but these three dark horses could make an impact in the St Leger and beyond

As Classics go, Saturday’s Irish Oaks was pretty disappointing. 

There were seven runners and therefore only two places up for grabs for each-way punters, only two horses rated above 100 and no British representation. The resulting contest meant it was little more than a gallop around the Curragh for Minnie Hauk and the expertly ridden Wemightakedlongway. 

It certainly wasn’t a race that served up a spectacle, and for all the Irish Derby has its own high-profile problems, this year it comfortably eclipsed the fillies' version. It’s inevitable some years will produce better races than others and it could be that the British middle-distance fillies aren’t up to much, but this was undoubtedly a low point. 

However, Minnie Hauk did her bit and rates the race’s third best winner in the last decade on Racing Post Ratings, with only Enable and Snowfall in front of her. The  Oaks form had been boosted by the Pretty Polly win of stablemate Whirl and she became the 16th horse to follow up after victory at Epsom.

It was a performance of grit rather than of grandeur, but she arguably wasn’t given a strong enough pace to aim at in order to show her best and more can be expected next time in either the Yorkshire Oaks or Prix Vermeille. 

Minnie Hauk: became the 16th horse to do the Oaks double at the Curragh on SaturdayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Talking of the three-year-olds, they may not be represented in Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes after the King Edward VII Stakes winner Amiloc was not among the eight runners confirmed on Monday.

Both the dual Derby winner Lambourn and Curragh sixth Green Impact have other targets, which could mean this year’s race will be the third since 2015 not to feature a horse from the Classic generation.

However, there are still top prospects to emerge from this year’s crop – after all, this time last year Saturday’s big-race favourite Jan Brueghel had only won a Group 3 – for the final British Classic on September 13.

Harry Charlton recently explained how challenging it has been to train his three-year-olds given the lack of rain this summer, but that didn't stop Skimmer from following up his Leicester win at Kempton a fortnight ago. 

The sizeable colt won in style under a penalty, muscling his way up the Polytrack straight to beat Wathnan Racing's solid three-year-old Sea Of Kings under Colin Keane. 

He swept past his rivals pretty swiftly after coming under pressure from his rider and looks well worth a step up in class for the Great Voltigeur at York on August 20, a race routinely won by late-maturing types.

There can’t be many horses by Kingman who look desperate for a mile and a half, but that is the case with Skimmer, who hails from an exceptional Juddmonte family. He is a half-brother to Logician, who took the York race before going on to land the St Leger in 2019, as well as strong stayers Collide and Suffused. 

William Hill offer 33-1 for him about the St Leger and that would certainly appeal if he is entered for the race on August 5, with the usual entry stage pushed back a month this year. He isn't devoid of speed, though.

Gethin: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe entry looks a classy prospect for middle distancesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Another horse with plenty of zip who is quoted for the race is the Owen Burrows-trained 20-1 shot Gethin, who was due to contest the Dante Stakes before a possible Derby tilt after winning his second start at Newbury in April. 

The time of the 1m2f novice stakes was two seconds quicker than the fillies’ race run over the same distance, which was won by the subsequent Musidora runner-up Serenity Prayer, so there was a bit of substance to the performance.

Furthermore, the runner-up Saddadd is now rated 101 after winning the London Gold Cup – frequently a producer of Group 1 talent – and the fourth Meblesh has won twice, which does plenty to anchor the form.

The way Gethin powered to the line there suggested he was a rare talent and the targets mentioned afterwards suggest connections believe he is up to at least Group-race standard. 

He wasn’t able to show it afterwards as he met with a setback, but he is reportedly back cantering with a view to returning to racing in August and even boasts an entry in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Stay True: arguably emerged with the most credit from Lingfield's Derby Trial in MayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The final twice-raced colt who could make an impact this autumn is Stay True, who seemed to emerge with the most credit from Lingfield's Derby Trial in May. Although forced to yield to his stablemate Puppet Master, the Leopardstown winner was only handled tenderly by Richard Kingscote in the closing stages. 

He looked a work in progress there, and although everything has not gone smoothly since, he would be of interest if lining up at Doncaster. A half-brother to a sprint winner, Stay True is definitely more of a staying prospect and has the size and scope to make a magnificent four-year-old. 

He ranges from 10-1 to 16-1 for the St Leger, but is also entered in the Irish equivalent. If Aidan O’Brien was inclined, and in an extremely forgiving mood, he would also look a good match for the Melbourne Cup.

Betfred St Leger (Doncaster, September 13)
Betfred: 2 Lambourn, 10-3 Scandinavia, 8 Lazy Griff, Merchant, 11 Carmers, 12 Minnie Hauk, Tennessee Stud, 16 Stay True, 18 Puppet Master, 20 Gethin, 28 bar.

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