ST LEGER STAKES
Saturday 16th September, 3:35pm
Arrest @ 10/3
Gregory @ 7/2
Continuous @ 4/1
Desert Hero @ 5/1
Middle Earth @ 8/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
RACE
The St Leger, the final of British flat racing’s five Classics, is also the oldest having already been staged three times before the Oaks came along at Epsom in 1779 and the Derby a year after that. Celebrated winners include Nijinsky (1970), considered the last horse to complete the ‘Triple Crown’, following success in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
Though Henry Cecil’s filly Oh So Sharp won at Doncaster after victories in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks in 1985, a treble that deserves more recognition than it ever gets. Since the early 1800s the St Leger distance has been one mile, six furlongs and about 115 yards, with five-time winning trainer John Gosden – whose stable has three live contenders in 2023 in Arrest, Gregory and the upwardly-mobile Middle Earth – regularly emphasising the importance of a horse’s stamina lasting out every single yard.
MARKET
The late Queen’s silks were carried to St Leger victory famously in 1977, her Silver Jubilee year, by Dunfermline, and it’s not just sentiment that is making plenty think the William Haggas-trained Desert Hero, the mount of Tom Marquand, can be a first Classic win for the new King and Queen after progressing from Royal Ascot to land the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood from Chesspiece.
Coolmore runner Continuous came from last to first in York’s Great Voltigeur under a beautiful Ryan Moore ride, picking off rivals including longtime leader Gregory (third). The extra distance here is likely to be ideal for Gregory, but enthusiasm for his claims is tempered by Frankie Dettori choosing Arrest following rain. After success in a heavy ground Chester Vase, Arrest went off Derby favourite but finished down the field there and subsequently at Ascot, both times on good to firm. However he got back to winning ways last time on good.
CORNELIUS’ QUARTET
Elsewhere on the Doncaster programme, in the Champagne Stakes (1-50), Iberian lines up off the back of a tracker-jamming second at Goodwood and he could give the unbeaten hotpot Rosaillon something to think about; in the Portland Handicap (2-25), Call Me Ginger is clearly thriving and is decently-handicapped as he goes for a repeat having been awarded the 2022 race in the stewards’ room, but we need to look at King’s Lynn (course form figures: 1-2-2-1) which is sure to give a good account; recent rainfall, plus his inform stable, makes Spycatcher stand out in the Park Stakes (3-00); and it’s a bit of time since Brunch (5-20) paid for dinner but he’s pretty capable on his day and has been easing down the weights.
WINNER
The St Leger is a big puzzle. Take out the two runs in drier conditions from the equation and a lot points at Arrest, and Dettori signing off his career with a seventh St Leger. But the vibes from the normally feet-on-the-ground Haggas camp are noticeably upbeat about Desert Hero and he and Chesspiece bring solid form from Goodwood.
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