COOLMORE ‘lad’ Michael Tabor told me the other day that he thought Ryan Moore’s performance on Wigmore Street in the Irish Cambridgeshire was the ‘ride of all rides’.
But Moore might need to quickly better even that magical effort this afternoon if Auguste Rodin is to see off potential monster Economics in the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.
It’s typical of the shambolic structure of European racing that a day that should be all about the last and oldest British Classic, the Betfred St Leger, is in many ways overshadowed by the Leopardstown showpiece.
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Some will disagree with that.
But one who clearly doesn’t is Moore, arguably the world’s finest rider and a man who has clearly chosen to be over in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien rather than at Doncaster to (probably) partner Illinois.
My Saturday tips
I’m going for Jan Brueghel in the St Leger for Aidan O’Brien and superstar jockey Sean Levey.
But for my NAP of the day, let’s take an each way play on Vintage Clarets.
He’s now 4lbs below his last winning mark and the extra half-furlong could help Richard Fahey’s sprinter with Jamie Spencer in the saddle.
The frustrating same-day clash aside, as racing fans we can of course all be gripped by two very different but equally enthralling contests.
This time last year Auguste Rodin saw off the returning Luxembourg, class filly Nashwa and King Of Steel to land the Irish Champion.
Earlier in 2023 he was a fine winner of the Derby and the Irish equivalent but had flopped prior to Leopardstown with a tailed-off effort in the King George.
This season the ups and down have been much the same.
He battled on well to take the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, but again was tame in the King George in fifth behind Goliath.
I’ve always believed Auguste Rodin is a proper horse. A beast.
But he might have to be more than that to dispose of Economics.
Owned, appropriately for today, by Bahraini Isa Salman al Khalifa, Economics cost far from a fortune and was only fourth on his racecourse debut as a juvenile.
But as a three-year-old the chunky son of Night Of Thunder has developed into a potential star, scoring at Newbury before banging in the Dante at York and, after a break, mowing down Jayarebe in the valuable Group 2 Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville.
That was an out of the ordinary performance, as Economics had a lot of ground to make up turning in but did so with gusto.
It left me feeling there is something about the chestnut that makes one think he could yet challenge Baaeed as the best William Haggas has trained.
But he needs to win this well if that statement is to have any resemblance of reality.
And in a field of eight, including Irish Derby hero Los Angeles and Luxembourg from Ballydoyle, the excellent Tom Marquand will need to be right on the money.
In a deep line-up the Juddmonte International third Ghostwriter and Japanese challenger Shin Emperor — third in the Japanese Derby — add further spice.
O’Brien dominates the St Leger, with the seven-runner field including his Illinois, Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square.
All three could win, with Illinois putting up a decent trial when last seen chasing home Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur.
Grosvenor Square had recent Chester winner Absurde 31 lengths behind when hacking up in the Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh. Can one really believe that?
The one I like is Jan Brueghel, who is unbeaten and I’m hoping can make it four out of four under the excellent Sean Levey.
The Gordon Stakes hero kept on well that glorious day to deny Bellum Justum and the form got a boost when the latter won a big pot at Kentucky Downs in the US the other day.
Jan Brueghel has improved quickly in a short time and there might be loads more to come.
He ran on strongly on his first try at 1m4f and was still green at Goodwood.
Everything about him suggests going up to the Leger trip will suit.
The home St Leger team is headed by the Irish Oaks victor You Got To Me, who has been supplemented by Ralph Beckett, while Deira Mile, the Epsom Derby fourth, goes for Owen Burrows and Ahmad Al Shaikh and is another not to be discounted in a race that will answer many questions.
David Menuisier has high hopes for Sunway, the Irish Derby runner-up who will be ridden by crack Belgium Christophe Soumillon for his French handler.
Ironically the Flemish painter Brueghel was born in Belgium — who would have thought the headquarters of NATO might play such an important part in a right old battle for the St Leger?!
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