Gleneagles On Go For Irish Champion

This year’s dual Guineas winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) remains on-track for the Sept. 12 G1 Irish Champion S., provided the ground goes in his favor. The Michael Tabor colorbearer has been removed from the G1 Sussex S., G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Juddmonte International in recent weeks after the ground came up too soft.

“If the ground stays good and fast, we will look forward to seeing him run,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. Gleneagles has not been seen since taking the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 16, and will race beyond a mile for the first time at Leopardstown while seeking his fifth Group 1 win.

“I suppose the exciting thing is to see how he handles a mile and a quarter,” said O’Brien. “He’s by Galileo out of a full-sister to Giant’s Causeway and he’s very like Giant’s Causeway.”

Should things go his way, Gleneagles is set to meet a star-studded field in the Irish Champion that could also include G1 Epsom Derby winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}); his recent Juddmonte International conqueror Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); and G1 Prince of Wales’s S. victor Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).