Through Irish Eyes has stamina for VRC St. Leger

Race by race in his brief career, the New Zealand-bred gelding Through Irish Eyes has improved with longer distances in five starts this year in Australia.

Through Irish Eyes was sixth in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Pakenham in his debut in January, beat maidens in his fourth start at 1 3/8 miles at Sale Racecourse on March 28, and was second by three-quarters of a length to Liqueuro in his stakes debut in the Galilee Series Stakes Final at 1 1/2 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on April 10.

Through Irish Eyes will race at an even longer distance in Sunday’s $155,080 Victoria Racing Club St. Leger Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 3/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. The race drew a field of 10 and is part of an eight-race program that begins at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Through Irish Eyes is a closer. Jockey Mark Zahra, who was aboard at Caulfield, retains the mount on Through Irish Eyes who is out of Zapurple, a Group 3 winner at 1 9/16 miles in Australia in 2009.

Through Irish Eyes figures to be a slight favorite over Favreau, who was sixth by 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Explosive Jack in the Group 1 ATC Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 10. A winner of 2 of 10 starts, Favreau has a similar closing style as Through Irish Eyes.

There are four fillies in the field, notably Salto Angel, who has kept good company in recent starts. A maiden after 10 starts, Salto Angel was second in the Group 1 VRC Oaks at 1 9/16 miles last November.

Salto Angel was third behind Liqueuro and Explosive Jack in the St. Leger Trial at 1 3/8 miles at Bendigo on March 27, but only 14th in a field of 15 in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes for fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick on April 10.