Los Angeles to tackle Irish Champion but Ryan Moore set to ride another Group 1 star

Ryan Moore looks set to ride last year's winner Auguste Rodin in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month, despite the fact Irish Derby winner Los Angeles will join him in the line-up. 

Los Angeles had been a leading fancy for the St Leger at Doncaster on the same day but, with a view to running in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later in the autumn, he will instead head to Leopardstown to form part of a three-pronged Ballydoyle attack, together with 2022 winner Luxembourg, on the day one feature of the Irish Champions Festival. 

Aidan O'Brien, who is chasing a 13th success in the Leopardstown showpiece, said: "It looks like Los Angeles will go to Leopardstown. We're thinking that way as we feel if he could finish in the first four he would then head on to the Arc afterwards. 

"I would imagine Ryan will ride Auguste Rodin, but nothing is set in stone yet and that could obviously change depending on what way the ground is and stuff like that."

Auguste Rodin is a best-priced 9-2 with William Hill, while Los Angeles is 6-1 with the same firm. Luxembourg is a best-priced 16-1. 

O'Brien is also likely to fire three bullets at the St Leger, with Wayne Lordan pencilled in for the ride on ante-post favourite Illinois in the absence of Moore, who will be on duty at Leopardstown on the same day. 

The trainer said: "At the moment we're thinking Wayne will go to Doncaster to ride Illinois in the Leger. Grosvenor Square is going to run at Doncaster as well and the horse who won at Goodwood [Jan Brueghel] is the other likely to run as well. Things can change, but that's the way we're looking at the moment."

Illinois is a general 2-1 shot for the Leger after sustained support throughout the last week, while stablemate Jan Brueghel is next best at 3-1. Grosvenor Square is a general 5-1 shot. 

City Of Troy's pre-Breeders' Cup all-weather gallop has been marked in the diary, with Southwell set to welcome the Derby winner on September 20 ahead of his date with destiny in the Classic at Del Mar on November 2. 

O'Brien: "All is great with City Of Troy and he will head over to Southwell on September 20 for his away day on the all-weather. We're delighted that they have been able to accommodate us."

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (September 14)
BoyleSports: 6-4 Economics, 10-3 Auguste Rodin, 6 White Birch, 7 Los Angeles, 8 Opera Singer, 14 Al Riffa, 16 bar.

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