Brown Panther comes to International off big win

Brown Panther, with a record of 10-4-3 from 24 career starts and purse earnings in excess of $1-million, arrives at the International from a breathtaking score in the Group 1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

"It was a hugely exciting day and the race went absolutely to plan," said trainer Tom Dascombe of the St. Leger triumph. "It was a thrilling result as it was my first Group 1 winner and something I'll always remember.”

The six-year-old Shirocco horse is bred and co-owned by retired soccer legend Michael Owen, who rose to prominence as a Liverpool striker and made headlines at the 1988 World Cup becoming England's youngest player and youngest goal scorer at the time.

Brown Panther's co-owner Andrew Black, is the co-founder of Betfair, the world's largest betting exchange. He left Betfair's board in September of 2012 and now sits on the board of a number of internet technology companies and has investments in numerous others.

Dascombe doesn't foresee any issues with the striking bay turning back in distance on Sunday from the St. Leger's 1 3/4-miles to the International's 1 1/2-miles test.

"He's won two listed races over a mile and a half and he was just beaten about four lengths in the (Group 1) King George over a mile and a half," noted Dascombe. "As long as there's a nice pace in the race it won't bother him. He won't want a crawl."

Dascombe has also shipped over Chasemore Farm's filly Wall of Sound for Sunday's $500,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes.  The lightly-raced Singspiel daughter finished third last time out, defeated less than a length, in a key stake at Yarmouth.

"She's done little wrong," said Dascombe. "The last day when she was third at Yarmouth, the winner (Hadaatha) came back third in a Group 1 (Prix De L'Opera, October 5 at Longchamp), and the second horse (Albasharah) then won at Newmarket by five lengths (in the Mobile Pride Stakes on October 11), so the form is there."

Source: Woodbine