Before the sad news broke of The Queen's passing on Thursday, the final fields were drawn for Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. and Doncaster's G1 Cazoo St Leger. There will be seven contenders for the Irish Champion, while if racing continues in Britain on Saturday–a statement is due from the BHA on Friday–there will be nine heading to post for the world's oldest Classic. The Aga Khan's G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse hero Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) will depart from stall two in the Irish Champion, with key opponents Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in stalls five and six respectively. Godolphin's G3 Gordon S. scorer New London has been allocated stall four at Town Moor, with 'TDN Rising Star' Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in five and seven. Of the withdrawals from the two feature races, the most significant losses were the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) from the Leger and the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) from the Irish Champion.
How Will Haskoy Measure Up?
Supplemented by Ralph Beckett who saddled the last Leger-winning filly in Simple Verse (Ire) (Danehill) in 2015, Juddmonte's undefeated Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) bids to provide connections with a second Classic this term. While the Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was entirely predictable, the Aug. 18 Listed Galtres S. winner has a leap to make to get to the big names here but with her unexposed profile that is possible. The dam Natavia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) looked a major player for the 2017 Oaks after winning the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S., only to finish last in the Epsom Classic, so Haskoy has family honour to restore.
“I can't remember having a filly with enough natural awareness to do what she did at York on just her second start,” the trainer told QIPCO British Champions Series. “She didn't even arrive here until the last week in May, as she was very immature. I'd be surprised if she didn't get the trip, as she's by Golden Horn out of a Nathaniel mare who ran in the Oaks, so the pedigree is all stamina. We've got a lot to look forward to if she copes with the occasion and the whole jamboree.”
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