PartialLogo
Previews

Search For A Song's form figures bely a big class edge in Irish St Leger Trial

Chris Hayes celebrates winning the Irish St Leger on Search For A Song
Search For A Song makes her first start at 1m6f since landing the Irish St Leger last SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann

Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3) | 1m6f, 3yo+ | RTV

In Free Eagle, Sapphire, Custom Cut and Falcon Eight, Search For A Song has some illustrious siblings who thrived over a wide range of distances, and Dermot Weld has been intent on mining some of that inherent class at shorter trips so far this season.

In particular, finishing third to Magical in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup over 1m2f has added some considerable lustre to her record, one which is already burnished with victory in the race for which this is the titular trial.

That memorable defeat of Kew Gardens in last year's Irish Leger was Search For A Song's only try at 1m6f, but she saw it out to fine effect and this return to such a test should prove no inconvenience.

Master Of Reality brings last November's huge run in the Melbourne Cup to the table and has been brought slowly to the boil by Joseph O'Brien this season, twice finishing behind Twilight Payment in the Vintage Crop Stakes and the Curragh Cup.

Master Of Reality (navy silks, nearside) ran a huge race in the Melbourne Cup last year, beaten a head in second before being demoted to fourth
Master Of Reality (navy silks, nearside) ran a huge race in the Melbourne Cup last year, beaten a head in second before being demoted to fourthCredit: Racing Photos

With Search For A Song unpenalised for last season's Group 1 success, the task is still a stiff one for Master Of Reality, although he is rated only 2lb inferior to the filly and arguably has not had quite such a hard time of things in his two comeback runs.

Delphi was up in trip and class when storming clear of his rivals over 1m4f in the Listed Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown last time and clearly retains some potential upside if appreciating the extra two furlongs.

Broad Street is another whose reasonably high rating has been earned at shorter trips, although the lightly raced five-year-old looks likely to appreciate stretching out on the evidence of his placed effort in a 1m4f Group 3 at Leopardstown 12 months ago, while the more the ground dries out, the better it will be be for the lead member of Luke Comer's three-strong challenge.
Analysis by Scott Burton

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Master Of Reality
We're hoping for a good run. His last run at the Curragh was nice, the course and distance suits him well and we're hoping he can acquit himself well again.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Micro Manage
He has been off the track for a long time. It's nice to bring him back to a track at which he has won, so he has course form which is always a plus, but he's had a few setbacks since then, so we're just hoping for a nice run.

Jarlath Fahey, trainer of Sea The Lion
He was only beaten a little over two lengths last time but still finished last of the five and, if it was a truer run race, he probably would have gone closer. There should be plenty of pace on here and we're expecting another good run from him.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Delphi and Monument Valley
Delphi has gone up in trip gradually and seems to be on an upward curve, but he hasn't raced over this trip yet and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. It looked like Monument Valley got the trip last time and the better the ground, the better his chance.

Reporting by Brian Sheerin


Ultimate Daily – our daily newsletters from Racing Post's experts, exclusive to the inbox of Ultimate Members' Club subscribers. To receive the newsletter subscribe at racingpost.com/members-club


Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 13 August 2020inPreviews

Last updated 11:40, 14 August 2020

iconCopy