A fantastic weekend is in store for aficionados of the International Turf. Over in France, a bevy of Arc trials will be contested at Longchamp on Sunday, while Ireland will see the Irish Champion Stakes being run the previous day with Australia (by Galileo) scheduled to make a reappearance. But it is to Great Britain we first turn, as that is the venue for the final leg of the Triple Crown and the oldest of that country's five Classics, the Ladbrokes St. Leger at Doncaster, which has drawn 14 three-year-olds for the event scheduled at 3:50 p.m. (local).

This is a race better suited to favourites than the other classics, with a dozen of the best-backed runners having scored in the past 22 years. At the same time, in the last decade alone, the likes of rank outsiders Mastery (14 to 1), Masked Marvel (15 to 2) and Encke (25 to 1) have triumphed, so the possibility of a friendless soul obliging is not as remote as it may seem at first glance.

Oddly, the public choice – at 5 to 2 – is a son of a miler. Investec Epsom Derby runner-up Kingston Hill (by Mastercraftsman) has spent a frustrating summer searching for the softer ground that suits him. This weekend he had the option to travel to France to take part in the Prix Niel but his connections chose to challenge for the St. Leger where the ground is expected to be good. The track did have a significant amount of rainfall late last week, but since then has been drying out.

Trainer Roger Varian is going to wait till the last minute before deciding whether to run or not. He said: "If they don't water they are risking the non-participation of the favourite in the Classic". Should Kingston Hill run, the up-and-coming Andrea Atzeni will be in the saddle. Although the colt is the highest-rated prospect in the field, he is by no means a cast-iron possibility even if he lines up.

A trio of interesting customers follows in the betting. Almost all St. Leger winners in recent times have started the 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards event coming off a run in either Goodwood's Gordon Stakes or in York's Great Voltigeur Stakes. Juddmonte's Snow Sky (by Nayef) took part in both, winning the former but surprisingly knuckling under in the latter (to Postponed, by Dubawi, who was not entered here). With retained rider James Doyle at the controls, the Michael Stoute-trainee is the 5 to 1 second choice. Incidentally, the connections also field the 12 to 1 Kings Fête (by King's Best), the mount of Ryan Moore, whose best effort to date is still somewhat short of the level of form required to win a classic.

One of the features of the 2014 season in Britain has been the terrific form of runners schooled by John Gosden at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket. Here he fields the third in the Investec Epsom Derby, Romsdal (by Halling), to be steered by stable jockey William Buick. This progressive colt might even have disputed favouritism had he not thrown in a clunker last time out when 7^th (of 8) in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. If one ignores that dismal effort, he could well be value at his 6 to 1 price.

Just a point longer is the 7 to 1 choice, Windshear (by Hurricane Run) from Richard Hannon Jr.'s barn, who was a close second to Snow Sky in the Gordon Stakes. To be ridden by the trainer's brother-in-law, Richard Hughes, the consistent colt can be guaranteed to stay and has the excellent record of 2 victories and 5 runner-up efforts from 7 starts. Surely he would be the choice of "each-way" punters!

Strictly speaking, Windshear also has something to find to top Hartnell (by Authorized) who beat him fair and square in the Bahrain Trophy in July. Mark Johnston's ward, who will have Joe Fanning aboard, had earlier won the 2 miles Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in June, but blotted his copybook in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, a lapse for which he will be trying to atone. As a runner trained in Yorkshire, he is sure to prove a popular winner should he oblige even if he starts at his current odds of 14 to 1 against.

Ireland, Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien, who all scored last year through the medium of Leading Light (by Montjeu), will rely solely on the lightly-raced Granddukeoftuscany (by Galileo). As Joseph O'Brien is required in Ireland (notably to pilot Australia), Colm O'Donoghue will guide the thrice-raced winner of a maiden who theoretically has the scope to show the improvement necessary for him to have a hand in the finish. However, the odds of 20 to 1 belie this assertion. 

Three hours after the result of the St. Leger is in the records books, three older runners will try and give weight (7 pounds) to a quartet of three-year-olds in the €1,000,000 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes (10 fur.) at Leopardstown. It's a measure of the high esteem in which he is held that this year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner, Australia (Joseph O'Brien up), is quoted at a mere 1 upon 3, whereas last year's winner of the same race, Trading Leather (by Teofilo), with Kevin Manning astride, is almost friendless at 14 to 1!

Only The Grey Gatsby (by Mastercraftsman), who recorded a career best rating when chasing home Australia in the Juddmonte International last month, is at single digit odds (5-1/2 to 1). Ryan Moore is expected to make the flying dash from Doncaster in a private aircraft to partner the latter. So superior does Australia appear that the possibility of victory even for high achievers like Mukhadram (by Shamardal) and Al Kazeem (by Dubawi) is being discounted.

Over in France on Sunday, Thierry Jarnet will renew his partnership with Treve (by Motivator) in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (2400 m.) after her trainer, 'Criquette' Head-Maarek approached the owners, Al Shaqab Racing, to "jock off" their retained rider Frankie Dettori. While this may seem harsh on the Italian ace, the trainer feels Jarnet is better suited to the four-year-old racemare and the owners concurred. A relatively drab lot of 11 rivals will try and prevent the superlative performer from getting back on track after her well-publicised niggling issues.

The Qatar Prix Niel (2400 m.) will see the practically unbeaten Elie Lellouche-schooled Ectot (by Hurricane Run) attempting to use "home-track advantage" as a weapon in his quest to defeat Aidan O'Brien's globe-trotting Adelaide (by Galileo). The Andre Fabre-trained Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris winner Gallante (by Montjeu) will aim to spoil the party.

The corresponding event for older runners, the Qatar Prix Foy (2400 m.) has only six in opposition. Half the field consists of runners in quest of rehabilitation of their reputations. These include Aidan O'Brien's pair – the 2013 Investec Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World (by Galileo) and the much-vaunted Kingsbarns (also by Galileo) – as also Juddmonte's Flintshire (by Dansili), an inmate of Fabre's barn. They are not the only runners in with a shout as Spirit Jim (yet another by Galileo) brings a skein of five consecutive victories, culminating in a triumph in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, into the mix.

Richard Hannon Jr. is double-handed in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600 m.) with Toronado (by High Chaparral) and Night Of Thunder (by Dubawi). Richard Hughes will continue to guide the fortunes of the former, while Hannon Jr. has secured the services of Ryan Moore to ride the latter. It may be recalled that Night Of Thunder had prevailed in a rather 'hot" running of the Qipco 2000 Guineas where he surprisingly defeated both Kingman (by Invincible Spirit) and Australia, the outstanding three-year-old males of the 2011 generation.