Oisin Murphy and William Buick to miss St Leger for Canada trip - but Curragh Group 1 rides have them making rapid return

Oisin Murphy and William Buick have won the last five jockeys' titles between them, but neither rider will be in action in Britain or Ireland on a stellar Saturday.

The Betfred St Leger, the final Classic of the season in Britain, is the feature race at Doncaster, while the likes of Tom Marquand and Ryan Moore will be in action on the same day at Leopardstown in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.

However, runaway championship leader Murphy and last year's winner Buick will both be in action in Canada instead, taking up mounts on what is billed as 'Turf Champions Day' at Woodbine.

Murphy rides at Doncaster on Friday but forfeits the ride on Sunway in the St Leger the following day as he is due to fly out to Toronto to partner New Century for his retainers Qatar Racing in one of the Grade 1 features, the bet365 Summer Stakes over a mile.

The $500,000 contest is part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge Series and has been won by Charlie Appleby and Godolphin in recent years with Albahr (2021) and the Buick-ridden Mysterious Night (2022).

A son of Qatar Racing’s own stallion Kameko, New Century has won two of his four races, most recently when mastering subsequent Listed winner Luther in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury last month.

New Century (noseband): won the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Murphy said: “I plan to fly out to Canada on Friday and fly back after racing to ride Giavellotto in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday.”

As to his chances in Canada, the three-time champion jockey added: “I’m looking forward to riding New Century, who won at Salisbury last time. His sire Kameko is having a very good time of it at the moment and it would be good to get him a Group 1 on the board. We’re hopeful he can run a big race out there.”

He added of Giavellotto: "I’ve won on him the last twice and hopefully he can make it three in the Irish St Leger.”

The Godolphin-Appleby-Buick combination will be going for a hat-trick in the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile after the victories of Modern Games (2022) and Master Of The Seas (2023).

This time around the team are represented in the $1 million contest by Naval Power, who has not been seen since being beaten a head in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day in May.

Buick could potentially follow the same route as Murphy back to Europe, with Aomori City among the entries for the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

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