Ryan Moore may have to wait until Thursday to find out which horse he will ride in this weekend's Ladbrokes St Leger with connections of Snow Fairy and Total Command biding their time.
Should conditions ease enough at Doncaster for Sir Michael Stoute's liking, the recently-returned champion jockey will be required for the outsider Total Command.
Potential downpours on Town Moor will have Ed Dunlop worried for the better-fancied Snow Fairy, who Moore helped to achieve an Epsom-Irish Oaks double during the summer.
Richard Hughes stepped in to steer her to second in the Yorkshire Oaks when Moore was out with his a wrist injury and the Irishman is in the frame again should both horses start on Saturday.
Dunlop said: "It depends on the weather. If it's not too bad, she'll definitely run. I've never had a runner in the St Leger and I would love to. Godolphin's horse (Rewilding) will be tough to beat. I hope she runs well but if she doesn't stay, she won't be bullied and have a hard race.
"She's in the Prix Vermeille and she will stay in the Vermeille. She has won two Oaks and I hope she will have one, maybe two more runs this year. Ryan will hopefully ride and if not Ryan, then it will be Richard Hughes or Eddie Ahern."
Of Total Command, down the field behind Leger favourite Rewilding in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, on his first start since June, Stoute said: "We will check on the ground on Thursday morning and make a decision then."
Stoute would like the ground to be "good or a bit softer" for Total Command to start but confirmed Moore would be asked to ride if he gives the go-ahead.
Aidan O'Brien was unable to shed much light on the jockey situation for his two intended runners, Joshua Tree and Midas Touch.
He said: "It's very possible Johnny Murtagh will ride at Doncaster but it's not definite. We have the National Stakes and the Irish St Leger in Ireland that day and it's all a bit up in the air."
Posts
