Moment in Time Faces Boys in American St. Leger

One of the most intriguing entries of the International Festival of Racing on Saturday is that of Eliza Park International’s Moment In Time.  A daughter of German champion Tiger Hill, the 5-year-old mare will face males in the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger and brings considerable back-class into the race, including an excellent third in the Grade I E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine the last time she made a trans-Atlantic trek.

“She’s lovely and shipped very well – she’s a professional.  She has eaten everything,” reported Ian Russell, traveling head lad for conditioner David Simcock.  “I was here with I’m a Dreamer and it would be nice to do it again.”  That Simcock-trained mare landed the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. at a price two years ago in what was the Newmarket yard’s only other Festival runner.

“Today she just did a light canter; it was very routine,” Russell continued.  “Tomorrow she’ll have a proper canter and will probably have a bit of work at the end of the week.”  Moment In Time is expected to work four or five furlongs in a small blowout Friday to prepare for her long 1 11/16-miles journey on Saturday.

The bay Irish-bred comes off a good second in the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newbury over a soft 1½ miles and has taken to marathon races in 2014.  Her best performance this year is arguably her fourth-place finish – beaten only three lengths in a 15-horse field in the Group II Dubai Gold Cup over a flat and good-to-firm two miles.  In that race, she sat mid-division before accelerating well, only to be outpaced by longshot winner Certerach and big favorite Cavalryman – one of the best stayers in the world – and the well regarded Star Empire.