Etymology is the study of words and the key word looking at today's VRC St Leger is class.
Etymology heads to the VRC St Leger off a familiar path from recent years, coming down from Sydney where he has been solid, though outclassed, in the three-year-old staying contests.
The 2013 and 2014 winners, Order Of The Sun and Hippopus, both followed a very similar path to the Leger and Etymology's Sydney form compares favourably with both.
Those two weren't narrow winners either, they won by seven and three lengths respectively, and their class edge was apparent.
Etymology heads to Flemington - where he ran second in the VRC Derby back in the spring - with a peak rating from this prep of 112. His nearest rival Hardern is rated 103, Cool Chap 97p and the race then quickly drops away into the 80's and even 70's.
There's a class edge, and it's an edge that he can put to good use today. Early prices put him firmly at the top of betting around the even money mark and that looks a more than fair assessment of his chances.
Cool Chap has a bit to find on pure form against Etymology but he does have good upside on a promising start to his staying career so far.
Cool Chap came through high-rating races to win at Caulfield over 2000m, posting a high rating of his own for the class, and he didn't take a step backwards when challenging the very promising Charlevoix over 2400m last time.
He may bump into another a peg above him today but he looks sure to run well.
Hardern has form that ties in with Cool Chap, having run third behind him at Caulfield, and he also has form that ties in with Etmology.
Hardern's best efforts came behind another classy Godolphin prospect in Tally who then went to Sydney and was number one seed ahead of Etymology for the 'Boys in Blue' in the ATC Derby.
Tally ran right up to that billing and boosted the form of his strong Melbourne efforts prior and that's the formline that the likes of Cool Chap and Hardern can take some confidence in as they head to Flemington today.
