Irish St Leger and Melbourne Cup clues as Search For A Song and Raise You clash

Saturday: 4.40 Curragh
Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3) | 1m6f | 3yo+ | RTV

This does not look the deepest running of this Group 3, but there is a touch of class provided by the presence of dual Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song and decent middle-distance performer Raise You.

Both rivals hold ratings of 110, meaning they are at least 13lb clear of the rest in this six-runner affair.

It appears as though Search For A Song saves her best for the later stages of the campaign, so there is encouragement that she could post an improved display as she returns to a track where she has won three of her eight starts, including back-to-back Legers in 2019 and 2020.

Having started her season with a promising second to Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup star Kyprios in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan, she arguably may not have progressed as might have been hoped when fourth to Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup.

She then disappointed when last seen finishing down the field in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp, and connections have opted to freshen her up over the past 11 weeks. This could prove a nice comeback target if she brings her A game.

Raise You: smart winner on two of his last three startsCredit: Patrick McCann

Raise You showed considerable promise in his younger days with Andrew Balding but has really blossomed when stepping up in trip this season at the age of six for Joseph O'Brien.

There was plenty to like about his win in the Listed Orby Stakes over 1m4f in June, beating live Ebor contender Okita Soushi on that occasion, and he bumped into the Ebor favourite Earl Of Tyrone when second in the Listed Martin Molony Stakes last time.

It's difficult to gauge how close he could have got to the winner if avoiding the congested passage he faced on that occasion, but he would undoubtedly have got closer than the final margin of a length and a quarter.

On that evidence, stepping up in trip again here should play to his strengths. If it does, and Search For A Song isn't on top form, Raise You rates the standout contender.

Moon Daisy, an improving four-year-old filly trained by Donnacha O'Brien, has a chance of earning further black type but would be a surprise winner.

Temple Of Artemis: won handicap at Chester's May festival for Aidan O'Brien when last seenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Her mark of 97 is 1lb superior to three-year-old Temple Of Artemis, who makes his first start since joining Joseph O'Brien from Ballydoyle.

He looks a largely unexposed type open to improvement, having won nicely in a Chester May meeting handicap when last seen.

Could history repeat itself with Flemington on the horizon?

Joseph O'Brien plundered this prize last year with 2020 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment and looks to hold the strongest hand in this year's line-up with Raise You and Temple Of Artemis.

Master Of Reality previously lined up in the same race en route to his near miss in the 2019 Melbourne Cup, as did Rekindling in 2017 when winning Australia's most famous prize.

Both of O'Brien's candidates for this year's Irish St Leger Trial hold entries for the Flemington spectacular on November 1.

O'Brien said: "Raise You has enjoyed the Curragh in the past and we're hoping for a good run from him.

"We're looking forward to seeing how Temple Of Artemis gets on as he makes his first start for us. Hopefully he can run a nice race."

What they say

Jim Gorman, representing Luke Comer, trainer of Seattle Creek
He's a smart horse and fingers crossed this will help lead him into the later stages of the season. He's got something to find on ratings but at Leopardstown on Thursday we ran a horse named Eskimo Komet in similar circumstances and he ran a cracker to finish fifth in the Desmond Stakes.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Moon Daisy
She seems to be improving and loves quick ground. We have a bit to find on ratings but we're hoping she can run another good race.

Kris Weld, representing Dermot Weld, trainer of Search For A Song
She's in great form, she's ready to go. We're into August now in terms of letting her roll on and she seems to like the Curragh so we'll see what happens.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Honeycomb
She was a little bit disappointing in Galway but we think it was the slow ground. The longer trip and better ground should hopefully help her to improve.

More Saturday previews:

1.55 Newbury: 'I'll be disappointed if he doesn't win' - which trainer is ultra-confident?

2.30 Newbury: Zechariah takes on his seniors in trial for St Leger in staying feature

2.50 Ripon: Who has the luck of the draw this time in the Great St Wilfrid?

3.18 Newmarket: Who doesn't love a grey? Trainer quotes for the Grey Horse Handicap

3.35 Newbury: Richard Birch examines a Hungerford with more depth than the market suggests

4.05 Curragh: O'Brien warns Luxembourg will 'improve plenty' for comeback run after injury

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