Shin Emperor camp hopeful of going two places better at Leopardstown

Jockey Ryusei Sakai is eager to make the most of a second chance at Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes glory with Japanese runner Shin Emperor.

The duo finished a one-length third behind Economics in the Leopardstown contest last year and will have to contend with Aidan O’Brien’s Eclipse victor Delacroix this time around.

Shin Emperor, who is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was last seen finishing down the field in the Dubai Sheema Classic in April, but Sakai was impressed with the four-year-old during a workout on Tuesday.

Sakai said: “He worked this morning on the Curragh racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop.

“He is a more mature and stronger horse now than last year, more experienced too. He looks great, very healthy and seems to have settled well into his new environment on the Curragh.”

Shin Emperor and Delacroix are among 12 contenders for the 10-furlong Group One, with O’Brien also leaving in Expanded, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Whirl, although the last two runners were in action at ParisLongchamp over the weekend.

Johnny Murtagh’s Zahrann, last year’s Champion Stakes victor Anmaat and John Murphy’s White Birch, who has not run since May, also feature.

Fallen Angel, last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas victor, leads 13 possibles for the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes.

Karl Burke’s charge won the Prix Rothschild last time out and could cross swords once again with the narrow runner-up January, who is one of two for O’Brien with Exactly.

Coronation Stakes victor Cercene and Wathnan Racing’s new recruit One Look are other key players, as it the Amo Racing-owned Cathedral, who was supplemented for the race by her new trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy.

Saturday’s Leopardstown card is the first day of the Irish Champions Festival, with the action rolling on to the Curragh on Sunday.

The Comer Group International Irish St Leger is one of four Group One highlights, with 16 entries including O’Brien’s Illinois facing a clash with Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, who won the Curragh Cup on his first start over a staying trip.

Asfoora will be the first Australian-trained runner on the Flat in Ireland when she lines up in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes following her Nunthorpe Stakes win at York last month.

A total of 20 horses remain in the sprint, including Adrian Murray’s pair of Bucanero Fuerte and Arizona Blaze, and She’s Quality, who disappointed on the Knavesmire after a string of placed runs.

Burke’s unbeaten Venetian Sun is set to lock horns with the likes of three-time scorer Composing and the once-race Diamond Necklace in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, which has drawn 11 confirmations, while Gstaad is one of five for O’Brien in a 10-strong list for the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.