RACING: Michael Kinane will be on board Sholokhov as Aidan O'Brien goes in search of a second success in a row in tomorrow's St Leger at Doncaster.
The Ballydoyle trainer reported yesterday that Richard Hughes will ride his second runner, Black Sam Bellamy, in the classic he won with Milan last year.
Just 10 have been declared for the Doncaster Leger which clashes with the Curragh version. O'Brien will run Ballingarry (Seamus Heffernan) in that.
"We wanted to split them up a bit and support both races. The ground wasn't really an issue," O'Brien said.
It will be the first time this season that Sholokhov will not be used as a pacemaker for either Hawk Wing or High Chaparral. Despite that, in four starts this season, he has picked up second placings in the Irish Derby and the Eclipse.
O'Brien intends to take more blood tests from High Chaparral before deciding if the dual-Derby winner will clash with Sulamani in Sunday's Arc trial, the Prix Niel.
"Everything has to be right. If we are 110 per cent happy with him, then he will run. If he does, I don't think we'll run anything else in the race with him," O'Brien said.
The Turf Club yesterday decided to take no action over the blood reports submitted by O'Brien in explanation of High Chaparral's non-appearance in the Irish Champion Stakes.
"The High Chaparral blood reports have been submitted and are as decided at the Leopardstown inquiry. The matter is now concluded," a statement read. O'Brien escaped a fine on the day after High Chaparral was confirmed a non-runner.
