Racing: Weather has profound bearing on Cup campaign

DUBLIN - The weather will determine whether Melbourne Cup favourite Profound Beauty takes her place in Saturday's group one Irish Field St Leger or goes straight to Australia for her cup bid.

Trainer Dermot Weld, who won the 1993 Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop, said he would make a final decision later this week.

"We've been washed out of it on The Curragh this morning and I intend making a decision later in the week if Profound Beauty runs on Saturday," Weld told the Racing Post yesterday.

"If she doesn't run on Saturday, the plan would be to go straight to Melbourne."

Profound Beauty finished fifth to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup last year and, with Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes winner Vigor, is the pre-post favourite at $11.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Age Of Aquarius and Changingoftheguard will continue their respective Melbourne Cup builds up at Doncaster on Saturday when they clash in the group one Ladbrokes St Leger.

Age Of Aquarius, a $41 chance for the Melbourne Cup, has firmed into favouritism for Saturday's feature, the final British classic of the season.

Johnny Murtagh will ride the top pick, with Colm O'Donoghue to partner last start Ebor Handicap runner-up Changingoftheguard, a $15 chance for the Melbourne Cup.

"Age Of Aquarius handles fast ground well, has a high cruising speed and I think he'll get the trip well," O'Brien said.

"Changingoftheguard didn't have a hard race in the Ebor, is progressing, and if the ground is nice we think he can run a real good race."

- AAP