Weld remains confident

Dermot Weld yesterday expressed concern over the likelihood of fast ground for the Jefferson Smurfit Irish St Leger, but also expressed confidence in Vinnie Roe`s chance of winning the race for the second year running.

Since the final classic of the season was opened to older horses in 1982, three horses have won the Leger back to back - Vintage Crop (1993-94), Oscar Schindler (1996-97) and Kayf Tara (1998-99).

Vintage Crop went on to land an historic Melbourne Cup triumph in 1993 but despite Vinnie Roe being a 5 to 1 favourite in some books for Australia, Weld is not looking that far ahead yet.

'We can put him in quarantine as and when we want to but it`s one day at a time at the moment,' he said.

Last year, Vinnie Roe beat Millenary by two lengths on good to firm ground.

The English raider has been his closest rival again in the ante-post market but the going could be Vinnie Roe`s main concern.

'I think he is a better horse this year but the ground is on the fast side and ideally he likes a little bit of ease,' Weld said. 'However, he is a very adaptable horse and all being well he will run.'

The other Group One contenders beside Millenary are the Irish Oaks heroine Margarula and Aidan O`Brien`s Ballingarry, who will be ridden by Seamus Heffernan.

The Ballydoyle trainer has never won an Irish Leger but Mick Kinane`s decision to ride Sholokhov in the English Leger does not inspire confidence in the Irish Derby third`s chance.

O`Brien said yesterday: 'We know Ballingarry handles the soft but he is a good moving horse that has always handled good ground at home. Still, it`s a big call against those older stayers.'

The going at the Curragh is officially described as good to firm, but Paul Hensey, manager at the course, reports the ground to be riding well.

'The ground is as safe as you`d like it to be and there`s no jar at all,' he said.

It could be a vintage day for the Weld-Smullen team. The Abbaye hopeful Agnetha gets the fast ground she thrives on in the Group Three Boland Stakes and the Leopardstown winner Perfect Touch is significantly dropped a couple of furlongs in trip for the premier sprint handicap.

Egyptian is a winner on a very soft surface up the Curragh but his breeding suggests he should be okay in the conditions for the mile and a quarter handicap.