RACING: Vinnie Roe was yesterday made a warm favourite for his double attempt on the Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger and received a ringing vote of confidence into the bargain.
A total of 18 have been left in the final classic of the season including seven from Britain. Arctic Owl and Yavanna's Pace, the first and second from two years ago, as well as last year's runner-up Millenary are being lined up for another Leger tilt.
However the bookmakers believe the race will be all about Vinnie Roe who is using this Leger to follow in Vintage Crop's Melbourne Cup hoofprints.
Cashmans have made the Dermot Weld trained runner a 7 to 4 favourite to repeat his defeat of Millenary last year and the indications are that the British raiders face a difficult task. Weld was at the sales in America yesterday but his son Kris, when asked if Vinnie Roe remains as good as he was 12 months ago, replied: "If anything we hope he is better!"
He added: "We had to go pretty easy on him after the Ascot Gold Cup and we wouldn't have been surprised if he had been beaten the last day. But class always comes to the top.
He looks great and has done everything right since then."
Vinnie Roe tops the weights for the Tooheys Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November, a race Weld famously won with Vintage Crop nine years ago.
Aidan O'Brien left four in the Irish Leger including the trio of three year olds that also figure among the entries for the English Leger. O'Brien is delaying a decision about who goes where until later in the week but Cashmans have made the O'Brien stable a 5 to 1 shot to win the classic.
Godolphin won the Leger twice with Kayf Tara (1998-99) and this time they have entered the Goodwood Cup fifth Hatha Anna.
However, their weekend ambitions are likely to be more focused on Sunday's Aga Khan Studs National Stakes for which the Godolphin team yesterday supplemented Dublin at a cost of €32,000. Dublin won the Group 3 Champagne at Goodwood on his last start, a race Naheef won en route to his National second to Hawk Wing last year.
A total of 17 remain in Ireland's most prestigious two year old Group 1 race including the $6.4 million Van Nistelrooy. Unbeaten in three previous starts over the course and distance, Van Nistelrooy is an intended starter from the Ballydoyle entry of five. Aidan O'Brien is looking for a fifth success in the race he first won with Desert King in 1996. The ground at the Curragh is currently "good" with rain forecast for this morning and then a clear run in to the weekend.
The Galway September festival has not been as fortunate with the weather conditions but that should not bother Lady Digby in the Vintners Race. Owned by Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood, Lady Digby achieved a 100 rating last year when her best form was on a soft surface. The one time she had the same conditions this season, she ran an okay race at Limerick and even with the drop in ratings, she still comes out ahead of the opposition.
Blue Corrig has it to do on the ratings against Zaby in the two year race but he looks a staying type that is still maturing and should relish a stiffer finish than he faced at Tralee last time.
