Wild weather patterns ahead of Saturday's William Hill St Leger

Horses are evacuated in San Antonio, Texas, on August 25, 2017, as Hurricane Harvey approaches. Harvey has intensified into a powerful category three storm, US meteorologists said August 25, as the Gulf Coast states of Texas and Louisiana braced for the first major hurricane to hit land since 2005. PHOTO | MARK RALSTON | AFP

What you need to know:

  • The story was one of many that played out across the state of Florida as Irma approached.
  • O'Brien, bidding for a fifth St Leger, confirmed that Capri is in ship shape for the Classic.
  • Five dolphins were relocated from their pool in the Florida Keys to a temporary enclosure in Central Florida

As Hurricane Irma made its way toward the coast of Miami, the Monroe County Sherriff's Office sent 426 prisoners to Palm Beach County in order to house 250 animals to protect them from the storm.

The animals, which included horses, sheep, alpacas, alligators a sloth and an emu, were relocated from a sanctuary for abandoned, donated, confiscated, and injured animals.

The story was one of many that played out across the state of Florida as Irma approached.

Five dolphins were relocated from their pool in the Florida Keys to a temporary enclosure in Central Florida and the humane society in Tampa Bay was looking for temporary foster care for more than 100 dogs.

EXOTIC ANIMALS

Other facilities that house larger exotic animals, such as zoos, sanctuaries and theme parks, opted to keep animals on their premises, keeping some of them in buildings designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and flooding while others were left in their normal habitats to prevent them from becoming too agitated and give them the optimum chance for survival.

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Heavy rain has rendered the Doncaster going soft, and  has not pleased all of those connected with 13 acceptors for Saturday's William Hill St Leger. It was welcomed by Roger Varian, who believes Defoe has sane qualities that could see him follow in the footsteps of his 2014 winner Kingston Hill.

Coronet and Venice Beach – two others who would not be inconvenienced by cut in the ground – were other market springers, while Coronet’s stablemate, Stradivarius, strayed to 6-1.

CRYSTAL OCEAN

Sheikh Obaid's, Defoe, continues to improve. Unbeaten in four runs this season culminating in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury last month, he started off winning a handicap at the same track. He has stamina, a great mind, and, quickens on cue.

Sir Michael Stoute, whose Crystal Ocean is up against Capri, who heads what looks likely to be a three-pronged attack from Aidan O'Brien - none of them are too keen on soft going.

O'Brien, bidding for a fifth St Leger, confirmed that Capri is in ship shape for the Classic. Venice Beach also a a stab at the big one.

Douglas Macarthur completes O'Brien's team, but would not enjoy it wet. As it stands now, Abyssinian, Air Supremacy, Capri, Count Octave, Crystal Ocean, Defoe, Douglas Macarthur, Raheen House, Rekindling, The Anvil, Stradivarius, Venice Beach, and, Coronet, are fairly definite runners.