Latrobe bids for Curragh glory

LATROBE will bid for his second Classic success of the season in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at the Curragh today.

The Camelot colt provided Joseph O’Brien with a first Classic success as a trainer with a memorable victory in the Irish Derby in late June, with his father Aidan’s runners filling out the places.

Latrobe failed to land a telling blow when dropped back from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter for the Juddmonte International at York last month and O’Brien has responded by stepping him up a mile and three-quarters this weekend.

The St Leger at Doncaster was also under serious consideration, but he instead remains on home soil for the Irish equivalent.

O’Brien said: ‘He’s a grand big horse, uncomplicated and he should be better next year. He only had one start at two and he progressed a lot over the winter. Because he’s a big horse he’s still relatively lightly raced. He should get the trip and we’ll see what happens.’

Aidan O’Brien has saddled four previous winners of the Curragh showpiece, with Yeats (2007), Septimus (2008) and the recently-retired dual victor Order Of St George (2015 and 2017) all on the roll of honour.

This year’s three-strong team is headed by Flag Of Honour, who is the likely favourite following successive course and distance victories in the Curragh Cup and the Irish St Leger Trial.

He is joined by Idaho and possible pacemaker Cyprus Creek.