Dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will not look to add a third Classic in the Sept. 10 G1 Ladbrokes St Leger. The Aga Khan colourbearer, last seen winning the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby June 25, did not feature among the 42 entries for the St Leger on Wednesday, and instead looks to continue down the path initially set out by trainer Dermot Weld and point towards the Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Aidan O'Brien fields 16 of the Leger entries, including the G1 Investec Derby second and third US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the latter having also been runner-up to Harzand in the Irish Derby. Investec Derby fourth Wings Of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) remains in contention, as does G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid) and G2 King Edward VII S. winner Across The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Last year's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) has also been given a Leger entry, but trainer Harry Dunlop said the colt, who emerged from an 11th-place finish in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club with a ligament injury, could wait until next season to return.
“I felt we should give Robin Of Navan an entry in the St Leger because it is the final Classic of the season and it would be lovely to build him up towards the race,” Dunlop said. “He pulled a ligament but it seems to be all good now and we are just quietly getting him back going again. The St Leger is a big target to aim at, providing he is ready in time. He won us an absolute fortune last year and ran a super race in the Prix Greffulhe [when second on seasonal debut May 8]. It would be lovely to get him back for the latter part of the season, but if we have to wait until next year with him, so be it.”
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