Panama On Course For Irish Classic

Trainer Andy Oliver is favoring a tilt at the G1 Irish St. Leger at The Curragh Sept. 13 for his classy stayer Panama Hat (GB) (Medicean {GB}). The Team Valor owned 4-year-old has shown no ill-effects since his recent Transatlantic crossing when he finished a good second in the GIII American St. Leger at Arlington Aug. 15. Though Panama Hat also holds an engagement in the G3 Enterprise S. at Leopardstown a day earlier the trainer is keen to target the Classic. “We’re still leaning towards the Leger with him,” said Oliver. “As of yet we haven’t had a final chat with the owners and he’ll be left in both at the five-day stage. He took the whole trip to America remarkably well. I can’t see an obvious winner of the Leger, so it could be worth having a go. On ratings we don’t have much to find. We’re up to 111 now and that puts him right in the mix,” added the Tyrone based trainer. Panama Hat, won his first race in June 2014 off a handicap rating of 60. Since then he has climbed a remarkable fifty one pounds in the ratings and who is to say that rating won’t be even higher in just over a week’s time.