Betting
MELBOURNE CUP | Irish St Leger winner Sonnyboyliston set to miss the trip to Australia
Jonny Murtagh’s recruit is to be rested until next season with connections opting to miss the two-mile handicap in Victoria
Irish St Leger winner Sonnyboyliston will miss the prestigious Melbourne Cup, after his connections confirmed he will be rested following his success in the 1m6½f Classic at the Curragh on Sunday.
Johnny Murtagh’s recruit has been fairly consistent this season, placing in five of his six starts and winning several big contests throughout the season.
After landing the Listed Molony Stakes at Limerick in June, the gelding bounced back to form in the Ebor Handicap as he just held on to win by a neck.
He delivered on his first Group 1 start, seeing off last season’s Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment by three-quarters of a length to win the Irish St Leger.
Racing fans alike were hoping to see the four-year-old compete internationally but after being awarded joint-top weight for the two-mile handicap in Victoria, Sonnyboyliston’s connections have decided against travelling to Australia for the contest.
Irish St Leger runner-up Twilight Payment is also joint-top weight for the contest, with Joseph O’Brien’s recruit aiming to become the first horse in 16 years to win back-to-back Melbourne Cups.
