There are three Listed races on today's Leopardstown card but in terms of future significance, much the most important of them is the Ballycullen Stakes, where Irish Derby runner-up Dr Johnson goes on trial for the Doncaster St Leger. After Desert King's headstrong performance in York's Juddmonte International on Tuesday, where he still managed to finish a length and a half behind the proposed "best horse in the world" Singspiel, Dr Johnson's effort to get within a length of him in the Derby has taken on even more significance.
Desert King's claims to be the best three year old in Europe, alongside Peintire Celebre, now look pretty sound and the English Tote have reacted accordingly in making Dr Johnson an attractive looking 7 to 1 for the St Leger.
Attractive that is if the Charles O'Brien-trained colt is reasonably sure to stay the mile and six furlongs at Doncaster, which is where today's race comes in. Over the full St Leger trip, but against opposition which shouldn't come near Dr Johnson at his best, it looks the ideal testing ground.
The fact that Dr Johnson escapes a penalty in today's race makes it even more so, but the only slight worry is his renowned laziness in his homework.
Dr Johnson improved steadily throughout the spring and summer with his racing, and on Derby day looked as if he was going to win when accelerating at the two furlong mark only to be overhauled by Desert King. His absence from racing since June 29th could leave him ring rusty, but surely not enough to allow Buddy Marvel or the English raider Eldorado, second to Silver Patriarch in the Newmarket's Zetland Stakes last autumn, to get too close.
Dr Johnson could be just one of four winners for the acknowledged master of riding Leopardstown, Christy Roche.
The season's leading jockey will know that the start will be half the battle for Best Before Dawn in the Belgrave Stakes, but presuming that goes well, Best Before Dawn can be the middle leg of an Aidan O'Brien treble in the opening three races.
This hardy sprinter has been known to dwell or rear when the stalls open for his races, but when he gets away on level terms he is a doughty opponent as he proved when carrying a big weight into third behind Norweigan Blue over this course and distance 19 days ago. Lady Shannon, tried in blinkers for the first time, looks the danger. Mempari is Roche's selection from four O'Brien juveniles in the opener and his judgment must be respected, while Code Of Honour can complete a four-timer in the Strathmore Handicap after good wins at Cork, Galway and Killarney.
O'Brien has three in the Debutante Stakes but this looks an opportunity for Abandonment to get his revenge on the Ballydoyle stable.
John Oxx's horse looked an unlucky loser here last month when only beaten by the minimum margin by O'Brien's Flame Violent despite having to be switched at a vital stage of the race. O'Brien has acknowledged his high opinion of Flame Violet and while the Naas winner Kitza is sure to be fancied, a clear run from Abandonment should see him win.
