Tompkins Maps Out Global Plan For Gardens Franklins Gardens is to take in the Irish Field St Leger next month en route to a crack at the Emirates Melbourne Cup in Australia.Trainer Mark Tompkins is convinced that his five-year-old will get into the Flemington spectacular on November 1 following his victory in the Yorkshire Cup and his highly-creditable sixth in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot at York.'Franklins Gardens has been nominated for the Melbourne Cup and, if all goes well between now and then, he will run,' the Newmarket trainer told his official website, www.marktompkins.co.uk.'A total of 251 horses were nominated for the Cup which, surprisingly, is slightly down on previous years, but having won the Yorkshire Cup and run such a tremendous race in the Ascot Gold Cup at York, we are confident Franklins Gardens will get in to the race.'Two miles will be perfect for him and Darryll Holland has agreed to fly out to ride.'The plan is to go for the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on September 17, which fits in nicely with quarantine regulations, and he should be flying out to Australia early in October.'Franklins Gardens will meet Vinnie Roe at the Curragh and could see him again in Australia, having finished four lengths behind Dermot Weld´s charge at York when the four-times Irish St Leger winner was third to Westerner, another Melbourne Cup entry. Vinnie Roe was also runner-up in the Australian contest last year.? PA Sport
