CLONDAW Warrior gave his all at Arlington Park in Chicago last Saturday and finished a fine second to the odds-on favourite Da Big Hoss in the American St Leger. The Melbourne Cup is now on the agenda for the first two finishers.

Everyone in Irish racing knows that Clondaw Warrior has given his owners some huge paydays since being bought inexpensively in a private deal. Da Big Hoss is another fairytale story having been claimed for just $50,000 last summer. This was his sixth stakes win since being claimed.

Owned by Skychai Racing, trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Geroux, Da Big Hoss settled in mid-pack before sweeping to another comfortable score.

good enough

Willie Mullins said of his runner-up. “He looked fantastic today even with all his travels this year. He jumped very slowly (at the start) and looked like he wanted every bit of two miles there.

“When he’s closing on the Belmont Gold Cup winner [Da Big Hoss] that has to mean he’s good enough to go to Melbourne.”