MONITOR CLOSELY (Oasis Dream [GB]) on Monday was supplemented for Saturday’s
St Leger (Eng-G1) at Doncaster, for which 10 were declared. Trainer Peter
Chapple-Hyam paid the £45,000 fee to add the August 18 Great Voltigeur S.
(Eng-G2) winner to the extended 14-furlong classic.
“We have decided to supplement Monitor Closely for the St Leger — chances to
have a crack at a classic don’t come along very often,” Chapple-Hyam said. “We
were delighted with his win in the Great Voltigeur and feel it is worth having a
shot at the Leger now. His work since York has been good and we are just hoping
that the ground remains on the quick side.”
Bahrain Trophy (Eng-G3) and Geoffrey Freer S. (Eng-G3) winner KITE WOOD
(Galileo [Ire]) will spearhead a two-pronged attack from Godolphon alongside the
Derby Italiano (Ity-G2) winner MASTERY (Sulamani [Ire]), but Racing Manager
Simon Crisford was far from confident at the race’s media event in London
Monday.
“I think the ground will work against him and I don’t think he will be the
favorite on Saturday,” he said. “He is a much better horse with some cut in the
ground.”
Aidan O’Brien has left in a quartet headed by Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1)
runner-up AGE OF AQUARIUS (Galileo [Ire]) and the Ebor H. runner-up
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (Montjeu [Ire]).
“Age of Aquarius has gone forward with every run and is not as exposed as
Changingoftheguard, who has been running in handicaps,” O’Brien said. “He will
love a big galloping track and faster ground. The two of them want good or
faster ground. Johnny (Murtagh) has not decided yet whether he’ll be riding at
Doncaster or the Curragh. The National S. (Ire-G1) is on at the Curragh the same
afternoon and the Champagne S. (Eng-G2), in which we could run Viscount Nelson
(Giant’s Causeway), is also at Doncaster, so we will just have to see.”
John Oxx has left in Irish Derby (Ire-G1) third MOURAYAN (Alhaarth) and is
also waiting on making jockey arrangements after Mick Kinane has alternatives at
the Curragh.
“He’s been very consistent and we want to run him, because I think it’s the
race for him and it would take a fair bit to stop him taking part on Saturday,”
Oxx said. “It will be a couple of days before Mick decides whether he’ll ride at
Doncaster or the Curragh the same day. It’s a 50-50 call and if Mick doesn’t
come over, I’d think Fran Berry will ride.”