Gleneagles© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien has nominated dual Guineas hero Gleneagles for the Breeders' Cup Classic in which he could take on American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
The high-class three-year-old is still in line to make an appearance in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday week, providing the ground is suitable.
He has missed intended outings in the Sussex Stakes and the Juddmonte International due to ground which was deemed to be too soft.
Should he not appear at Leopardstown, Gleneagles will have the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day as a back-up on October 17.
A mouthwatering duel with American Pharoah, who only finished second in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday, could then be on the cards if Bob Baffert's colt stays in training.
In a statement released to Press Association Sport, O'Brien said: " Given suitable ground, Gleneagles will run in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday week and, failing that, he will be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.
"His end-of-season target is the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland where he may face American Pharoah."
