In a marvelous weekend of racing Sunday at The Curragh will see another defending champion Brown Panther (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) return to the scene of his greatest triumph. A six length winner over Leading Light (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in last year's G1 Irish St. Leger, the Tom Dascombe trained 7-year-old looked as good as ever when resuming this season in Dubai in March where he was an impressive winner of the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. He lost nothing in defeat when beaten half a length by Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef) in the G2 Yorkshire Cup in May but an injury to his near fore fetlock meant he had to miss the G1 Ascot Gold Cup and all of the summer. Having made a full recovery he is reported to be in great shape by his trainer and ready to do himself justice.
The English challenger will face a stiff home team lead by Aidan O'Brien's Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Dermot Weld's Forgotten Rules (Ire) (Nayef). The Ballydoyle challenger has won his last two starts by a combined total of thirteen lengths and looks ready for this step up in grade. Forgotten Rules, a Moyglare Stud homebred, is an established top flight stayer but his best form is on soft ground and Dermot Weld has already outlined his hopes for a thunderstorm on Saturday evening, after Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) runs in the G1 Irish Champion S.!
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