Duke De Sessa is fitted with a hood and steps up in trip after landing a Group 3 over 1m4f at the Curragh. Dermot Weld’s colt will likely handle the going better than Al Qareem, who has claims on his earlier second at Newbury to subsequent St Leger winner Deauville Legend. But the progressive LA MEHANA rattled-up a hat-trick with a comfortable success in Listed company over 1m6f at Deauville and Jean-Claude Rouget’s filly is taken to confirm running with Sober over this slightly longer trip. Fasol was narrowly beaten over course and distance last month and is another with plenty of scope.
Duke De Sessa (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, headway 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, stayed on in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on well closing stages to lead on line, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Sep beating Thunder Kiss (9-6) by shd, 9 ran.
Al Qareem (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 6 1/4l behind New London (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Fasol (8-13) 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Master Gatsby (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Sober (FR) (8-13) 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind La Mehana (8-10) at Deauville 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Aug.
Ermelie (FR) (8-10) 6th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Excelsior (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f stks gs in Sep.
Whileuweresleeping (8-10) won at Mont De Marsan 1m 4f stks gd in Sep beating Caligine (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
La Mehana (FR) (8-10) won at Deauville 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Aug beating Sober (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
