Tag Archive for: St Leger

Roving Reports: And so it begins…

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I suppose of all the places a new venture could begin there are worse ones than Doncaster, particularly as it doesn't mean a near four-hour commute from my house (that will come next week) and I'm on familiar territory, writes David Massey. St Leger Day almost didn't happen, with the morning drive to the track narrowly averting disaster as I fail to spot a flotilla of police motorbikes and Range Rovers tracking up the outside line of the M18, and I just barely avoid absent-mindedly pulling out in front of them as I try and change the station on the radio. As it turns out, this won't be the last time I find myself just in front of the Prime Minister (for it was he) on the day.

I'm with new work partner Vicki today, who has parents that live nearby and, God bless her mum, she's made me a cheese sandwich with a bag of cheese and onion crisps as an accompaniment. I am delighted to report the sandwich was delicious. Mums, eh? I miss mine, but I think I've found a spirit one with Vicki's as that's exactly the sort of thing mine would have done. "You don't need to, Mum, there will be food there." "Well, I've done you a pack-up now anyway. You never know." And even though you do know, you take the sandwich, and it's brilliant.

So anyway, Doncaster is packed with racegoers, which is good, but it does mean our route down to the parade ring from the press room (which is up top) is hard to navigate. We decide a better option is to go the back way, down the stairs, and come out by the weighing room. This works well for much of the afternoon, until the Leger comes around. We want to head to the pre-parade ring but for some reason we can't turn left, the route totally fenced off, and we have to head between the cordon to the parade ring. Everyone is crowding around the barriers as if they're waiting for someone. Imagine their disappointment as Vicki and myself loom into view. It's at this point I realise the PM is probably about thirty seconds behind me, as there are security men surrounding us. "Keep walking, and don't look back!" I shout to Vicki, just behind me. Sure enough, it's not long after we enter the parade ring that Sir Keir makes his appearance. I'm only glad that we didn't get booed as well.

Vicki is on her own on the Sunday at Doncaster. I warn her early there may be a few drops of rain, but not much. I lose count of the number of photos she sends me throughout the day of her in her transparent waterproof poncho, looking more miserable in each one as the day passes, as my weather forecasting skills prove about as accurate as my race-reading ones. I don't think sending her a photo of the roast dinner I'd made for me and the good lady helped matters, either. Still, I was at Leicester on the Monday before and it threw it down all day there when it wasn't supposed to, so let's call it a soggy score-draw on the week and move on.

And so to Yarmouth and the Eastern Festival. All sounds very exotic, doesn't it: an Eastern Festival? Those of a certain age will be reminded of Turkish Delight at this point. I'm reminded exactly how exotic things will be when I swing onto the Road To Kings Lynn (one of Bing and Bob's lesser-known adventures) and a whopping great potato lorry pulls out in front of me. Game over. Just sit tight and enjoy the finest flat scenery Lincolnshire has to offer for the next forty miles. Sadly, the African Violet Centre is still closed. There will be no streptococcus for me this year.

There will, however, be the more common Mcdonaldsus Drivethru'us on the way. As I arrive, the queue in front of me is one car. In the three minutes it takes to get my food, a dozen cars pile in behind me. I take this as a good sign and one that says luck will be on my side this week. I get back on the main road just as another potato wagon pulls in front of me, the good fortune lasting all of thirty seconds.

I'm in my usual B&B at Yarmouth and so are all the others that stayed there last year. It's like time hasn't moved on at all. Which seems appropriate, as there are parts of the town that don't feel like they have evolved much either, probably for about fifty years. Yarmouth is what it is, but it's badly in need of some modernisation. Even Skeggy has upgraded, for crying out loud.

I'll be at the dogs Monday night (I always go early) and Wednesday night and, on Tuesday, I have a meal with Arthur Cooper and Vicki to discuss further business. Many of you will recognise Arthur's Aussie tones - he commentates on the French racing for Sky on occasions - and he has tales to tell, and racing politics to discuss. We put the racing world to rights over a sticky toffee pudding, which is how it should be. It's a pleasure chatting to him, and I look forward to our next meet.

Tuesday's card is probably the least interesting of the three days. The weather is kind, more so than the results, which are a disaster for bookmakers. Yarmouth is a strong ring too - shop around and you'll be betting to less than one percent a runner. The stretchers are out for the books as the fourth favourite on the bounce goes in mid-afternoon. Trade at Fallen Angels could well see a downturn this year. (Google it, this is a family column.)

Vicki is with me on the Wednesday and I introduce her to the bookmaker who goes by the name of Billy Bongo. Vicki has already asked if that's his real name, which caused much mirth. She's disappointed to find out he's actually called Simon, but when I tell her his surname is "Pieman", it takes her a minute to decide that that's also bull. I give her a little quiz on bookies' names and whether they are real or fake, which she fails badly. She has a lot to learn about the layers, although I notice she has her favourites she likes to deal with. They tend to be the younger, better-looking ones. I shall leave it up to you, dear reader, to decide whether this is purely coincidental or not.

It's the East Anglian Derby at the dogs on the Wednesday night and the place is heaving. Luckily I'm on a table upstairs and have Viv Stingray (also not her real name) with us. Viv works at Southwell and has never been to the dogs before. This means I can easily impress her with my limited dog knowledge but by the end of the night she's a convert, even watching old vids of Scurlogue Champ on YouTube, and of course, loving them. How could you not? He's still the most amazing dog I'll ever clap eyes on. (If you've not watched the recordings or heard of him before, go and have a look. And be amazed.) Viv has already decided she's coming again next year.

Thursday, and the 3lb I lost weight-wise last week is all put back on with the final cooked breakfast of the trip. I tell myself I'll be back on the Ryvita tomorrow as I tuck into a third rasher. My luck this week hasn't been so great and I'm down so far, but a decent bet on Redorange at 3-1 helps the bank balance bounce back a bit. At least it's stayed dry this year, if windy. The drive back is a better one than the one coming down; no 'tater wagons on the route at 7pm, see? One last McDonald's for the road, and I'm home for half nine. I've an email when I get back asking me for a ten-to-follow for the jumps season. I've enjoyed the Flat this year but, I have to say, I can't wait to get stuck into the timber-toppers this time around. Especially now I'll actually be able to see them in the flesh rather than just viewing them going to post from the rails. An exciting winter lies ahead...

- DM



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Monday Musings: The Jugglers

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The second Saturday in September illustrated how trainers and jockeys’ agents need to be expert jugglers at this time of year, writes Tony Stafford. We had the Irish Champion Stakes, worth a total €£1.15 million (€712k to the winner) and the Betfred St Leger, £830k and £421k to the winner, yet three UK champion jockeys were riding more than 3,000 miles away from either venue.

The trio - Oisin Murphy, William Buick and Frankie Dettori - all lined up in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for 2yo fillies over a mile and worth £177k at the Woodbine racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Buick was on the 4/5 favourite for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the dual early-season winner Mountain Breeze, but she could only manage eighth place.

Ahead of her were Murphy, fifth on 65/1 shot Ready To Battle, for dominant local trainer Mark Casse despite being the outsider of his trio; and Dettori was one place behind on the Christophe Clement filly Annascaul, the race second favourite.

He was the only one of our itinerant trio to have a ride in the next Graded race, the Ontario Matron (G3) on the Tapeta track. He finished fourth for Casse who again had three runners without securing the win.

Only five turned up for the E P Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares, run on the turf track. In the past the E P Taylor was a frequent target for UK and especially French runners. It honours the Canadian breeder Eddie Taylor. He stood Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Northern Dancer, the stallion who first tickled the fancy of Vincent O’Brien and led, with Robert Sangster and John Magnier’s help, to the legacy of Sadler’s Wells and, through him, to his even more influential son Galileo.

This year, the E P Taylor was a tame affair considering there was £266k for the winner. Oisin got a ride here but could do no better than fourth of five on Blush for French-based trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. All three of the visiting riders had been previous winners of the race.

Charlie Appleby and Andrew Balding staged a rematch from a Listed race on King George Day at Ascot in July, with Al Qudra, the winner of that race for Charlie and Will, going into the bet365 <they get in everywhere!> Summer Plate over a mile on the turf as favourite, having beaten New Century by just over two lengths then.

Here Oisin turned the form around on identical terms, winning by one and a quarter lengths from Al Qudra in another Grade 1 again worth £177k, as with the juvenile fillies earlier. The share of the spoils made Oisin’s awayday worthwhile and even in defeat Buick got his mitts on a portion of the 60 grand for second.

The principal reason for the Appleby/Godolphin attack was presumably the featured Rogers Woodbine Mile, with a hefty £355,000 to the winner. The Buick mount, Naval Power, was the 11/20 favourite but finished only fourth to a couple of Mark Casse runners, siphoning up between them a good deal more than half a million Canadian bucks. Naval Power had been a very close second on his previous start when Dettori had the mount in a valuable supporting race on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs in early May.

If you feel sorry for Frankie, the pensioner (in jockey terms) started out the previous weekend looking forward to a hatful of Aidan O’Brien mounts at Kentucky Downs, but only Greenfinch, who finished fourth, ran, the others being withdrawn. But then, a week yesterday at the same track, May Day Ready won a £483k first prize and that was supplemented by a double at the same track on Wednesday. Dettori won the £238k Gold Cup with Limited Liability and then the Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational with Kathymarissa and another £720k.

His win prizes amounted to £1,323,000 over the week. No wonder he loves being in the US!

What did they miss while waiting for Saturday in Canada? At Doncaster there was an eighth St Leger win for Aidan O’Brien as the inexperienced and in some ways still green Jan Bruegel edged out Illinois in a thrilling tussle up the Doncaster straight. Both colts are by Galileo and at the final opportunity, his sons dominated yet another English Classic.

Impossible to separate in the market, it looked like a potential dead-heat in the race until Sean Levey, who started out life as an O’Brien apprentice before relocating to the UK, forced his mount’s head in front close to the line.

Behind in third and fourth, also locked together, were Deira Mile and Sunway who crossed the line only a nose apart. I thought it a mealy-mouthed decision by the stewards to turn the form around, denying Deira Mile’s ever-adventurous Ahmed Al Sheikh of Green Team Racing another placed run in the English Classics of which he is so enamoured.

Bay City Roller was a good winner of the Champagne Stakes that opened the card, but it might have been a different story had not Chancellor prematurely burst out of the gate. The Gosden colt, a smart scorer at the track last time, was third at Ascot in the race where Al Qudra beat New Century.

The raft of unlikely horse/trainer/jockey partnerships on this unusual day continued in the Portland Handicap, one of my favourite races with its intermediate sprint distance of around five and a half furlongs.

Here, the unluckiest horse in training, Peter Charalambous’s Apollo One, got the services of no less a partner than Christophe Soumillon. The Belgian, a multiple champion jockey in France, had just got his mount’s brave head in front of a gaggle of horses on the far side when the favourite American Affair flew down under the stands rail under Paul Mulrennan to beat him by a nose.

It was a notable win for Jim Goldie and, given the way he finished on Saturday, the Ayr Gold Cup in five days’ time must have its appeal. Peter Charalambous is adamant he would never ask Apollo One to run in the likely soft ground at Ayr, but it would be nice to think he would win a big sprint handicap before too long.

Over the past two seasons he has finished second in four big sprints, the Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup last year and the Stewards’ Cup and Portland in 2024. His total losing distance is barely two and a half lengths in those races.

Irish Champions Weekend featured a fine return to form by the slightly unpredictable but undeniably ultra-talented Auguste Rodin. He ran a great race in the Irish Champion Stakes but just failed to cope with the tenacious favourite Economics.

It had been a brave decision by William Haggas to resist running his colt in the Derby after his sensational <I use the word advisedly> Dante Stakes romp at York and, nicely rested, Haggas had given him an ideal warm-up run at Deauville last month for his main target here.

Economics came from some way back, as did Auguste Rodin. Tom Marquand sent his mount into the lead halfway up the short Leopardstown straight, when it appeared that Ryan Moore on the dual Derby winner was going marginally the easier, even getting his head in front in the last hundred yards. Economics, to his credit, pulled out extra and, despite battling all the way to the line, Auguste Rodin had to be content with an honourable second place.

The path for both horses is set in stone. Economics will now go to the Qipco Champion Stakes for what will be only his sixth career start. Auguste Rodin has the Breeders’ Cup Turf, which he won last year, as his autumn objective.

Just behind in third and fourth were the Japanese horse Shin Emperor, who should make a bold attempt at being the first from Japan to win the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, and fast-finishing Los Angeles, who probably would have fully extended his two stablemates at Doncaster.

His range of entries, from the Champion Stakes (ten furlongs) at Ascot to the British Champion Long Distance Cup (two miles) the same day and, a fortnight earlier, the Arc over one mile and a half reflect his untapped potential and versatility. I’d go the stayers’ route if he were mine – wishful thinking in the extreme!

Yesterday, Messrs Buick and Murphy made it back to the Curragh for the second day of the Irish Champions Weekend. They might not have won as they rode respectively Vauban and Giavellotto into second and third in the Irish St Leger, but at least they got a close-up view of the remarkable Kyprios.

Aidan O'Brien's six-year-old entire was taking his earnings past £2 million with an authoritative performance under Ryan Moore. It was Kyprios' 13th win in 17 career starts. After last year's injury problems and a curtailed season of only two second places, he has now repeated the same first five victories of his unbeaten four-year-old campaign and in the same  races.

That year (2022) he ended the season with victory in the Prix Du Cadran over two and a half miles - by twenty lengths! If he goes there and wins in three weeks it would be a double unbeaten six-timer, four of them at Group 1 level, surely a record, and one that will be exceptionally difficult to match in the future. He deserves to be regarded as at least the equal of Yeats as a stayer. Many will think him superior.

- TS



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Aidan O’Brien to field St Leger trio as seven declared

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Aidan O’Brien will fire a three-strong team at the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday as seven were declared for the final Classic of the season.

The Ballydoyle squad is headed by Royal Ascot winner Illinois, who subsequently chased home stablemate and Irish Derby winner Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur at York.

Los Angeles was not declared for Doncaster, as anticipated.

As well as Illinois, O’Brien has two other colts gunning for glory who would be stable stars in most yards.

Jan Brueghel is unbeaten in three outings
Jan Brueghel is unbeaten in three outings (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Jan Brueghel is unbeaten in three outings, including in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time out.

Also representing Ballydoyle is Grosvenor Square, who has slowly come to the boil this season but exploded with a 20-length victory in the Irish St. Leger Trial last time out.

The opposition is headed by David Menuisier’s Sunway, the mount of Christophe Soumillon.

He was narrowly denied by Los Angeles in the Irish Derby and then not disgraced against older horses in the King George at Ascot.

Oisin Murphy has been Sunway’s regular rider but misses the British Champions Series event to ride in Canada on Saturday.

Sunway (noseband) was not beaten far in the Irish Derby
Sunway (noseband) was not beaten far in the Irish Derby (Damien Eagers/PA)

“Oisin rang me last week and told me that he had to go to Canada, so that gave me time to look around on what is one of the busiest of weekends,” said Menuisier.

“Luckily Christophe was  available, and that’s great news. He’s ridden for me twice this year and they both won, at Clairefontaine and Dieppe.”

Owen Burrows’ Deira Mile was fourth in the Derby to City Of Troy and promises to be suited by stepping up in trip while the real fly in the ointment is the filly, Ralph Beckett’s You Got To Me.

She won the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and was supplemented following her brave attempt to follow up in the Yorkshire Oaks.

The Andrew Balding-trained Wild Waves completes the field.



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‘A great moment’ – Kingston Hill put Varian on road to Classic summit

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Roger Varian is now one of Newmarket’s biggest trainers. But 10 years ago the journey was only just beginning as Kingston Hill gave him a first Classic triumph when storming to St Leger glory.

Varian was already a Group One winner at this point having taken over from Michael Jarvis three years before, but Kingston Hill secured his membership to racing’s most exclusive club of Classic-winning handlers.

Of course, the son of Mastercraftsman had already come close when second in the Derby earlier in the season and his excellent CV meant he arrived at Doncaster as favourite for the world’s oldest Classic in September 2014.

However, his position at the head of the market – and long layoff having skipped the Great Voltigeur on account of firm ground at York – meant there was some trepidation in the air as Varian watched the strapping grey write his name in the Town Moor record books.

Kingston Hill with Roger Varian at home
Kingston Hill with Roger Varian at home (Christ Radburn/PA

Varian said: “I was only three or four seasons into my training career and to win a Classic, whatever was going to happen afterwards, you would always be a Classic-winning trainer and it is something no one can ever take away from you.

“It was obviously a big occasion for us and I remember feeling he was the class horse in the race. He was second in the Derby that year behind Australia and fourth in the Eclipse, and the Leger was his first run after the Eclipse. We had him declared for the Voltigeur at York, but we didn’t run him as it was very fast ground.

“He was going to Doncaster as a class horse and favourite, but he hadn’t run for some time. We thought he should win and when you are thinking that, it makes you a bit nervous.

“When you are young and getting going, those big horses help shape your profile and help attract new owners, so he was great. The story was great and winning the oldest Classic as our first Classic, it was a great moment.”

Not only was Kingston Hill’s victory a significant feather in Varian’s cap, it was also a major moment for owner Paul Smith, someone who had shown plenty of support in the fledgling days of Varian’s training career.

The duo had watched Kingston Hill lead the Derby inside the final quarter-mile before ultimately giving way to Australia – a result that was bittersweet with Aidan O’Brien’s colt sporting the colours of Paul’s father and Coolmore partner Derrick Smith.

Kingston Hill (left) was denied by Australia in the Derby at Epsom
Kingston Hill (left) was denied by Australia in the Derby at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)

The angst of that Epsom near-miss was somewhat washed away by the delight of simply saddling a horse capable of figuring in the Premier Classic – a contrast to the emotions felt almost 20 years later when King Of Steel filled the same spot on the Surrey Downs.

“I don’t think the occasion was lost on me, it (Doncaster) was a great day,” continued Varian.

“It was great to win it for Paul Smith, who had horses with Michael Jarvis previously and supported me when I took over. We had become very close to Paul and his family, so it was great to win it for Paul.

“We were over the Derby by the time the St Leger came around, and it’s funny as I was caught up in the celebrations a little bit at Epsom as Australia had won in Paul’s father’s colours and Paul was second in his colours.

“At the time you are young and think ‘what could have been’, but equally you are delighted to have had a runner in the Derby who nearly won.

“I think when King Of Steel was second last year, you are more ‘oh god’. When you are younger I guess you don’t feel the disappointment as much as you do when you have been at it a little while.”

Kingston Hill's Racing Post Trophy win marked him as a Classic contender
Kingston Hill’s Racing Post Trophy win marked him as a Classic contender (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

It should perhaps not have come as a surprise South Yorkshire was the scene of Kingston Hill’s finest hour, having announced himself as a Group One performer the previous season in the Racing Post Trophy.

His class and versatility was evident throughout the 2014 season as he took part in Classic events at a mile, 12 furlongs and a mile and three-quarters, but the one thing Kingston Hill relished most of all was cut in the ground, something which was missing at Doncaster.

Despite taking him to places he could only imagine only a few years prior, Varian cannot help but wonder now and again what might have been if soft ground had appeared in the going description for just one of his many top-level assignments that year.

“He was a great horse and he won the Racing Post Trophy at two,” added Varian.

“He didn’t have things go his way as a three-year-old, he loved cut in the ground and the slowest ground he ever ran on was good ground.

“I think in a different year he may have won another of those good races and in the Derby, yes he was beaten by Australia, but they were a good way clear of the rest.

“Its all ifs and buts, but he was a big horse and he went on to be fourth in the Arc behind Treve after winning the St Leger. He was very good and very good to us, and we will never forget the day he won the St Leger.”

David Egan and Roger Varian with the St Leger trophy after Eldar Eldarov's win
David Egan and Roger Varian with the St Leger trophy after Eldar Eldarov’s win (Tim Goode/PA)

Doncaster has continued to be a happy hunting ground for Varian and he added to his St Leger tally in 2022 as Eldar Eldarov became his second British Classic winner.

Cut from a slightly different cloth to Kingston Hill, he gave just a glimpse of his potential during his brief juvenile career.

However, he thrived at three, scoring at Royal Ascot before dashing up the Doncaster straight in the hands of David Egan for another special moment in the final Classic of the season.

“Eldar Eldarov had a different profile, he was a slow burner who only ran once at two,” explained Varian.

“But when he won that Nottingham maiden at two, he was very impressive and looked to stay well and I just thought then he could go on to be a Leger horse.

“He did well as a three-year-old and won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He wasn’t quite sharp enough in the Grand Prix de Paris when fourth, but from that moment we targeted the Leger and he was trained for the race.

“I know he wasn’t favourite for the race, but he was one of the fancied runners and it was great to win it again, it was another very special day.”



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All roads leading to Doncaster now for Deira Mile

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A tilt at Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger remains firmly on the cards for Deira Mile following his narrow defeat at Windsor on Saturday.

Making his first appearance since finishing fourth behind City of Troy in the Derby in early June, the Camelot colt was a hot favourite for the Listed August Stakes, but was unable to reel in the front-running Sea Of Roses, who clung on by a neck under a well-judged ride from Hayley Turner.

While frustrated to suffer defeat, Deira Mile’s trainer Owen Burrows is far from despondent as he targets a trip to Doncaster on September 14.

“It was disappointing not to win, but it was bit of a messy race, so I wasn’t too disappointed with the performance as such,” he said.

“It would have been asking a lot to go to a Leger without a prep run, so I was pleased to get one into him. It was probably half a furlong shorter than ideal and a messy old race, but fair play to Hayley, she got her fractions spot-on and we couldn’t quite get by.

“I was happy as you can be for finishing second and we’ll go straight to the Leger now. I don’t see any reason to change plans, so we’ll head to Doncaster.”



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Los Angeles at the head of O’Brien squad for St Leger

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Aidan O’Brien dominates the entries for the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on September 14.

Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, the Queen’s Vase one-two of Illinois and Highbury, the unbeaten Jan Breughel and Irish Oaks favourite Port Fairy are among 14 of the 25 in contention.

Los Angeles held off Sunway at the Curragh, with the latter also entered by David Menuisier as the Pulborough-based Frenchman goes in search of an elusive first British Classic.

Port Fairy is perhaps O’Brien’s surprising entry. Impressive in winning the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, she is due to run this weekend at the Curragh and would be aiming to become the first filly since Ralph Beckett’s Simple Verse in 2015 to win the world’s oldest Classic.

Owen Burrows has two contenders, in the shape of Derby fourth Deira Mile and the twice-raced Vanish, while Andrew Balding has entered Royal Supremacy and Wild Waves.

Charlie Appleby has entered his impressive Bahrain Trophy winner Ancient Wisdom, but an absentee is his stablemate Arabian Crown, who has not been seen since winning the Classic Trial at Sandown in April.

Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Meydaan are among those available at big prices.



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Deira Mile to bypass Irish Derby challenge

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Deira Mile will swerve the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, with the St Leger at Doncaster in September his primary target.

The Owen Burrows-trained colt finished fourth in the Futurity Trophy on his final start last season before launching the current campaign with a comfortable four-length victory over 10 furlongs at Windsor to break his maiden.

He then stepped up in trip to a mile and a half for the first time in the Derby at Epsom and was handed a wide draw.

He travelled towards the rear of the field for much of the race before making up ground as they turned for home and reeled in majority of the field to come home a seven-and-a-half-length fourth behind impressive winner City of Troy at odds of 25-1.

But Burrows feels the mile-and-three-quarters trip of the St Leger will suit his charge better than a mile and a half at the Curragh.

Burrows said: “No plans for the Irish Derby. I’ve spoken to the owner Ahmad (Al Shaikh) this morning and we’re just going to give him a little bit more time.

“We feel that the Leger really is his race and he’s got one or two other entries abroad later on.

“He’s not going to get confirmed tomorrow and we’ll be swerving Ireland.”

Owen Burrows is swerving a trip across the Irish Sea
Owen Burrows is swerving a trip across the Irish Sea (Mike Egerton/PA)

Stablemate War Rooms is another Burrows inmate who will not be making a trip across the Irish Sea.

Burrows believes a drop down in class for the son of Churchill is needed after he was well beaten in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

Burrows said: “He got far too far back in the King Edward VII, so we’ll have a little bit of a rethink with him and lower his sights a little bit.

“We’ll try to get his head in front somewhere and that won’t be in Ireland.”



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Gregory to embark on winter break after St Leger effort

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Gregory will have the top staying races in his sights when he returns next year, with his brave St Leger run in defeat signalling the end of his three-year-old campaign.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the son of Golden Horn quickly established himself as a high-class performer by winning his first three outings and also demonstrated his thirst for a stamina test when striking in the hands of Frankie Dettori in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

However, after a first defeat in the Great Voltigeur at York and deserted by Dettori on account of the wet week in South Yorkshire, he was unable to correct the record on unsuitable ground at Doncaster as Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous confirmed Knavesmire form on Town Moor.

The Wathnan Racing-owned colt holds an entry for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot next month, but even though Gregory plugged on for a respectable fifth once headed in the St Leger, connections will now wait until next year before testing his long-distance credentials, with his Doncaster outing the final act of his 2023 season.

“I think he’s going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable race,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to Gregory’s owners, reflecting on his Leger run.

“He’s a big colt and by the far the biggest, most scopey horse in that field and he’s only going to get better from three to four.

“He still ran with credit, but we’ll put him away now and we’ll look at turning him into a Cup horse next year.

“I think he’s got a very high cruising speed and he can sustain that, so I think that is what way we will be looking at.”



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No decision yet on Arc bid for Leger hero Continuous

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Aidan O’Brien is in no rush to make a final decision on Continuous’ potential participation in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe following his brilliant victory in the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

The son of Heart’s Cry was beaten in his first three races this season, but has really found his groove in the second half of the campaign – impressing in the Great Voltigeur at York before providing his trainer with a seventh success in the season’s final Classic on Town Moor.

Continuous does not hold an entry in the Arc, but O’Brien did raise the possibility of supplementing the three-year-old at a cost of €120,000 in the immediate aftermath of his Doncaster triumph.

The Ballydoyle handler reports Continuous to have taken his exertions well, but with the supplementary stage not taking place until a week on Wednesday – four days before Europe’s premier middle-distance contest is run – he is happy to let the dust settle before considering the next plan of attack.

“We were delighted with him and he seems to be fine, (but) we don’t (make plans) until a week or so ever,” he told the PA news agency.

Continuous is entered for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 21. When asked about possible alternatives to an Arc bid, O’Brien added: “He has a lot of alternatives really anywhere, we’ll just see how he is first really I suppose.”

Savethelastdance will not run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Savethelastdance will not run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Niall Carson/PA)

One high-profile O’Brien inmate who will not be in the Arc line-up is Irish Oaks heroine Savethelastdance, who was last seen finishing third behind stablemate Warm Heart in the Yorkshire Oaks.

The trainer confirmed the Galileo filly is not in contention for the trip to Paris and will not run again this season.

On whether she could return as a four-year-old in 2024, O’Brien added: “We always talk about those things at the end of the year really, so we haven’t discussed it yet.”



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Monday Musings: Continuous Relentlessness

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If you enjoy perfection, as I am certain it’s something for which the British Horseracing Authority’s handicappers strive for every day, then the St Leger was something of a disappointment, writes Tony Stafford. It will have been doubly so I’m sure for Mr Michael Harris, the gentleman responsible for flat races over 11 furlongs and above.

The ratings for the nine runners (four from the redoubtable O’Brien team) were, in finishing order, Conspicuous 115, Arrest 114, Desert Hero 110, Tower Of London 109, Gregory 111, Chesspiece 109, Middle Earth 102, pacemaker Denmark 102, and Alexandropolis 101.

What was wrong with him? On his rating, surely Gregory should have been third, but maybe a clue to why he wasn’t: John Gosden came over to Aidan before the race and told him he thought the Golden Horns do not like soft ground. It seemed Gregory didn’t.

Obviously, it was a major triumph for Mr Harris, who no doubt will push up the winner into the 120’s and therefore offer hope that he can go to the Arc in a fortnight’s time with a chance of emulating the trainer’s so far only two wins (Dylan Thomas 2007) and Found (2016) in the great French race at ParisLongchamp – see I remembered!

That has been the immediate target for the last four Coolmore St Leger winners but to no avail. The best candidate in 2023 of course would probably have been Auguste Rodin, dual Derby and Irish Champion Stakes hero who, as Ryan reminded me emphatically after yesterday’s win, is firmly online for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

O’Brien has won 16 races at that late autumn extravaganza, and he is sure to have another formidable team to represent himself and his owners who have kept him supplied with high-class material in the entirety of his career. But it’s what you do with raw material.

The numbers are even more mind-boggling for the five Classic races on either side of the Irish Sea. Saturday’s triumph put him on 43 Classic wins in the UK over the 26 seasons since King Of Kings, 1998 2000 Guineas and Shahtoush (Oaks) gave him a double right at the start of his time as master of Ballydoyle.

He got going a year earlier at home, where he has 50 domestic Classic wins so far with 15 in the Irish Derby leading the way. Here it’s seven in the 1000 Guineas, 10 in the 2000 Guineas, nine in the Derby, ten in the Oaks and seven in the St Leger. The relative home scores are 10, 12, 15, seven and six.

It seems O’Brien has more respect for the status of the Doncaster version, a race that has survived many questions as to three considerations; that it should remain the province of three-year-olds, that they should be only entire colts or fillies; and that it should remain at the one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards of yore. The Irish race has kept its trip of one mile six, but has long been open to geldings and older horses.

Continuous was an appropriate name for a Coolmore winner and there was also much delight, especially from Christy Grassick, in the immediate aftermath. He was doubly delighted, as he celebrated a second Japanese-bred winner this year after Auguste Rodin, while glorying in the identity of the maternal grand-sire, you guessed it, that late but unquestionably very great Galileo.

That champion’s victory in the 2001 Derby was Aidan’s first at Epsom and also marked the arrival on the Ballydoyle scene of Michael Tabor. Start as you intend to go on might well be his mantra. John Magnier and his formidable back-up team – son M V was busily shopping at Keeneland September last week with sire sensation Into Mischief the latest to attract his attention – have no mind to ease off.

Their perennial search is to identify and secure from the major racing and breeding establishments around the world suitable outcross stallions to prolong the potency of the Northern Dancer/ Sadler’s Wells/ Galileo legend. I don’t think they will go far wrong if history is anything to go by.

Continuous in a way exemplified the manner of O’Brien’s training, one of continuous improvement.  The son of Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence) did win his only two races at two, including a Group 3, but when third to The Foxes in the Dante at York and eighth in the Prix du Jockey Club, his limitations seemed there for all to see.

Next though, in finishing a four-length Royal Ascot runner-up to Epsom Derby second King Of Speed he moved up a notch in the hierarchy in Tipperary. An easy success in that most informative of all St Leger trials, York’s Great Voltigeur, should have been enough to convince the sceptics, as it established him as an obvious candidate.

He needed to nudge ahead of the filly Savethelastdance, but when the Epsom runner-up and Irish Oaks winner was beaten into third behind emerging stable-companion Warm Heart in the Yorkshire Oaks on fast ground, her challenge lost some of its impetus. Warm Heart’s victory in the Prix Vermeille last weekend only solidified Savethelastdance’s credentials.

Ironically, had she turned up on Saturday, she would have had the ground to her liking and been worthy of her place in the field against the colts. With the chance of easy ground for her remaining potential targets, she should be fine and O’Brien should be able to find another big target for her before the end of the year.

Continuous had one ingredient that the other eight runners on Town Moor lacked, an instant turn of speed which should make him a threat at 12 furlongs in Paris. No doubt the major Japanese studs, especially Shadai Farm, will be having their eyes on at least a shared stallion deal if not an outright buy. It would take many, many millions of yen to secure him at 183 yen to the £.

It was nice to feel close to the action on Saturday. We had lunch in a room next door to the Royal Box, which unusually for Doncaster had two attendees (the King and Queen) giving veracity to its title. The snag was the corridors were thronged with security people at every turn.

We left the room before they did, but without an escort, I got sidetracked, neither getting into the paddock until the horses had left for the start, and didn’t see them either, unlike most of the crowd who enjoyed their presence and the performance of his horse Desert Hero, trained by William Haggas for a creditable third behind Frankie Dettori on runner-up Arrest.

At least, going to watch by the winning line, it was easy to enjoy Ryan’s clockwork ride from ground level and then to be involved in the post-race photo upon Aidan’s “Come on Tony” exhortation.

So we were left to marvel at the skill of the man with 93 UK and Irish Classic winners to his credit and yet still only in his mid-50’s. To gauge what it means in modern terms, the late Sir Henry Cecil managed 25, saving the best for last with Galileo’s son Frankel in the 2000 Guineas. Sir Michael Stoute has 16 to his credit and John Gosden (with or without Thady) a round dozen. In statistical terms, of the 260 Classic races in that time, he has won getting on for 40% of them and of the UK, just about 35%.

All that was left was to wonder whether Howard Wright was there? My former colleague at the Daily Telegraph had indeed trekked up from Surrey to his birth town and while I neglected to poke my nose in the press room, he was in attendance.

“Yes, I missed the first three,” said Howard yesterday, “But this was my 75th anniversary, so I’ve seen the last 76.” As I said, I should have called in, but greed got the better of me. A few yards from the far end of the main car park is a fantastic fish and chip shop. I can’t manage chips yet, but as my neuralgia seems to be responding to treatment, the famed scampi was fine.

I always used to say that I could make a portion of this delicious concoction last me all the way down to Grantham. I called for the larger (ten) option, but it barely got me to Bawtry. On second thoughts, I must have been a double-ten portion man. Figures! I love the St Leger, almost as much as Aidan, Ryan and the Coolmore boys.

  • TS


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No fairytale Leger goodbye, but Dettori proud of Arrest effort

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There was no fairytale final Classic for Frankie Dettori as the retiring weighing-room legend had to settle for second aboard Arrest in the Betfred St Leger.

It was long thought Dettori would ride his Royal Ascot winner Gregory for his final crack at one of racing’s elite prizes, but the Italian made a last-minute switch to his John and Thady Gosden-trained stablemate Arrest ahead of declarations on Thursday on account of the soft going at Doncaster.

The 52-year-old had begun his farewell season with 2000 Guineas victory aboard Chaldean and in perfect symmetry he was again donning the Juddmonte silks in which he has enjoyed so many big-race triumphs throughout his career as he went in search of a seventh and final Leger trophy.

Frankie walking out for this final ride in the St Leger
Frankie walking out for this final ride in the St Leger (Danny Lawson/PA)

Like when partnering Arrest in his final Derby earlier in the season, the money came for Dettori’s mount, and he was sent off the 11-4 favourite as the stalls opened for the Doncaster showpiece.

And Dettori’s calculated risk briefly appeared clinical judgement as Arrest surged past a tiring Gregory approaching the final furlong.

However, already edging ahead of them was Ryan Moore aboard Continuous and Dettori was powerless in the closing stages as Aidan O’Brien’s improving colt galloped clear to run out a clinical winner of the world’s oldest Classic.

Dettori said: “I was actually getting excited between the three and the two and I thought I was going to win when I went by Gregory and then I looked over and saw Ryan and though ‘ah, I’m not going to’.

“I think that was a really good Leger, you could almost compare it to the Capri, Stradivarius, Coronet year (2017). I think the top three are pretty good.

Arrest (left) was unable to reel in Continuous at Doncaster
Arrest (left) was unable to reel in Continuous at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

“I said to John ‘train him as a good mile-and-a-half horse next year’ but then I realised it’s not my problem anymore”

He went on: “I wanted to curse at Ryan, but he’s such a good mate of mine I couldn’t. I congratulated him and he was on the best horse on the day.

“I had a super run and then I saw I Ryan going better than me and I knew getting second would be good.

“He was a bit gassy, but that’s the way he is. He could be a force to be reckoned with next year over a mile and a half.

“It’s been a good journey, it wasn’t to be but I came close and I loved it.”

As at the Ebor meeting Dettori – who enjoyed a chat with the King, in attendance to watch his Desert Hero finish a gallant third, following the race – laughed off the idea he could be tempted to postpone retirement. “It’s got to be (a) big (offer)! Big!” he said.

Arrest’s training team concurred with Dettori’s thoughts that Arrest could be a real player in some top contests next term.

Frankie Dettori chats to the King at Doncaster
Frankie Dettori chats to the King at Doncaster (PA)

They were also satisfied with the brave effort of Gregory, who after being up with the pace throughout plugged on when tired in unsuitable ground to finish a not-disgraced fifth.

Thady Gosden said: “They’ve both run very good races, they’ve just been beaten by a very good horse there.

“Arrest has run a super race to be second. Gregory ran a nice race but the ground just wasn’t in his favour, he’s a horse with a lovely action and it would have been a bit deep for him.

“I think they are both quite versatile regarding trip. If you look at Gregory he’s still got some maturing to do, he’s a big horse and could be a Cup horse next year.

“We’ll have to see with Arrest, he’s stayed a mile-six-and-a-half there which isn’t far off a Cup trip so we’ve lots to look forward to.”



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Marquand fully focused ahead of Desert Hero’s St Leger date

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Tom Marquand is concentrating on the result rather than the occasion ahead of his bid to carry the royal colours to Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.

It is 46 years since Dunfermline provided the late Queen with the last of her five British Classic wins in the Town Moor showpiece and optimism is high that Desert Hero can end the long wait for another victory by adding his name to the roll of honour on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained colt brought the house down after giving the newly-crowned King and Queen their first taste of Royal Ascot success in the King George V Stakes in June and he has since enhanced his Leger claims by landing the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Marquand has ridden multiple Group One winners at home and abroad, including a first Classic win with Galileo Chrome in a behind-closed-doors Leger three years ago – but in his view Desert Hero’s victory in Berkshire three months ago tops the lot.

“I’d be lying if I said anything other than I didn’t even give it a thought beforehand, as a jockey you don’t. There’s only one thing that matters and that’s winning and everything else pales into insignificance unless you win,” he said.

“It was an absolutely incredible day and an extremely special one that will probably rank up right up there for the rest of my days riding.

“Honestly, it’s probably the highest. Obviously you’ll have higher profile wins in higher grade races, but as an Englishman the opportunity to ride the King’s first Royal Ascot winner, with them there and seeing the excitement and the pleasure both the King and Queen got from it, was incredible.”

The King and Queen cheer on Desert Hero at Royal Ascot
The King and Queen cheer on Desert Hero at Royal Ascot (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Following the late Queen’s death 12 months ago, there were genuine concerns the royal patronage of the sport might fade. Marquand feels Desert Hero’s Ascot win went some way to allaying those fears.

“For racing it’s extremely important and gratifying that the passion for the sport that we all love so much is there,” he continued.

“I think that’s what made the occasion so special, that it was so clear for everyone that was there and watching on the TV as well the joy the King and Queen got from that winner.

“I didn’t think that I’d get a Classic-winning opportunity for them so soon after obviously, but that Royal Ascot will be hard to topple off top spot.

“It was great, but to have that line of progression from Desert Hero to the point where he’s going into the St Leger as one of the main chances in the race is fantastic for everyone.”

Given the expectation, Marquand will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders when he heads out onto the Doncaster turf on Saturday afternoon, but he is keen to treat it like just another race.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it, it’s a big day and an important one with pretty special circumstances, obviously. It’s great.

“Obviously we’re very appreciative to be in the situation we are going into the weekend with him, but we kind of put that to one side going into the racing scenario as it’s all insignificant unless his head lands in front in the right place.

“It doesn’t matter who owns him or who is involved or whatever if that doesn’t happen, so first and foremost the main priority is to give him the best opportunity to win that we can and after that hopefully we’ll have a bit more to worry about!

“It’s all insignificant if he doesn’t win, so there’s not much point spending time thinking about it.”

Desert Hero with connections at Royal Ascot
Desert Hero with connections at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Desert Hero finished only eighth when favourite for Newbury’s London Gold Cup on his seasonal debut, but Marquand insists he was far from despondent.

He said: “He didn’t disappoint us all at Newbury. It was a mile and a quarter, it was obviously his first run of the year and things didn’t quite go to plan as I ended up making the running, so I actually came back in extremely happy with him.

“I just thought he’d been a bit slow and he’d love going up to a mile and a half and the progression from there has been massive.

“Ascot was obviously a huge performance, but he went and cemented that at Goodwood up in Stakes company and on very different ground as well.”

One question Desert Hero will have to answer is whether his stamina will last out over a mile and three-quarters, but Marquand is as hopeful as he can be the longer trip will not be an issue.

“He’s shown how appliable he is to different things and different conditions. He’s got a different trip to contend with this time, but I think it’s fair to say he’s shown the trip shouldn’t be an issue and on breeding it shouldn’t be an issue, so we’re hoping it’s not going to be,” he added.

“Until you run over it, it’s still a question mark, but I think it’s one of the question marks going into a race like this you don’t mind having. If the trip is the only problem we have then fantastic!”

Marquand knows Desert Hero will not have things all his own way, with a clutch of talented rivals lying in wait.

Frankie Dettori bids for one final Classic win before his retirement aboard Arrest, while Continuous and Gregory renew rivalry after finishing first and third in the Great Voltigeur at York last month.

Desert Hero (left) winning at Goodwood
Desert Hero (left) winning at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Further strength in depth is added by the supplemented Middle Earth and Chesspiece, who was only a neck behind Desert Hero at Goodwood in early August.

Assessing the field, Marquand said: “It’s a race where there’s a lot of strength in it, but there’s no standout horse that needs to disappoint for something else to win. It makes it interesting.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity and I know William and the team at Somerville Lodge are thrilled they’ve found a horse like him this year for the King and Queen – it’s given everyone a huge amount of pleasure to be in this position.

“Whatever happens, they’ve done a fantastic job with him and everyone has enjoyed the ride so far.”



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Haggas hoping to realise Classic ambitions for the King and Queen

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William Haggas is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of Desert Hero’s bid to carry the royal colours to Classic glory in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

It is 46 years since Dunfermline landed the Doncaster showpiece for the late Queen, who also won the 2000 Guineas, the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks as an owner.

Desert Hero already has a place in history, having provided the newly-crowned King and Queen with a first Royal Ascot success in the King George V Stakes in June, since when he has enhanced his Leger claims with victory in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

The King and Queen celebrate Desert Hero's Royal Ascot win
The King and Queen celebrate Desert Hero’s Royal Ascot win (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Haggas has been pleased with the Sea The Stars colt since his latest triumph – but while expectations from the wider racing community are high ahead of his trip to Town Moor this weekend, the Newmarket handler is not getting carried away.

“He’s in good form and doing well – he worked this morning and he went nicely. He’s done now so we just have to hope for the best,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“He was impressive at Goodwood with cut in the ground and he won on top of the ground at Royal Ascot, so I don’t think that bothers him too much.

“Obviously the softer it is the more accent it puts on stamina and he may not be a strong stayer at a mile and six and a half (furlongs), but we’ll see – I think he will.”

There were genuine concerns the royal patronage of racing would fade with the late Queen’s passing 12 months ago, but joyous scenes in the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure following Desert Hero’s success were a huge boost to the sport.

Haggas said: “It’s wonderful that they’ve taken up the mantle from the King’s late mother and are enjoying it with great gusto. It’s terrific that they’ve got a horse that is obviously quite useful and they’re enjoying him enormously, I know that.

“Everyone who is involved in horse racing in any shape or form would like to win a Classic, whether they breed it, own it, train it, ride it or look after it.

“The Classic is everyone’s dream, so they’re no different to everyone else.”

Haggas knows Desert Hero will not have things all his own way, with a clutch of talented rivals set to be in opposition.

The King with Desert Hero at Ascot
The King with Desert Hero at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

He added: “There doesn’t looks to be too many that shouldn’t be there. John (Gosden) has got the strongest hand with Gregory, Middle Earth and Arrest, and Aidan’s (O’Brien) horse (Continuous) was very impressive in the Voltigeur.

“I suppose Gregory and Continuous are the two, but they’re the front two in the market. Chesspiece is very solid and we’re pretty solid too, so I think it’s a good renewal and it will be a good, fun race.”

Desert Hero has also been given an entry in the Melbourne Cup, but Haggas is not looking beyond this weekend’s big-race assignment.

He said: “Obviously it’s in our minds, but much will depend on what happens on Saturday.”



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Great things expected from Leger favourite Gregory

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Gregory puts his Betfred St Leger aspirations to the test in Wednesday’s Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the high-class colt is a perfect three out of three in his career so far and is as short as 2-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 16 having enhanced his reputation with a taking success in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

The son of Golden Horn was sporting the colours of Qatari-based owners Wathnan Racing for the first time when surging to victory at the Royal meeting and he will now bid to lay down a marker ahead of a potential trip to Town Moor next month in a race the Clarehaven team won with Logician in 2019 en route to St Leger glory.

Frankie Dettori with a flying dismount from Gregory
Frankie Dettori with a flying dismount from Gregory (David Davies/PA)

John Gosden said: “He’s coming back two furlongs in distance from the Queen’s Vase and I think he’s going to be well suited by the St Leger distance.

“We planned the autumn campaign with him so that it was always one run and then to the Leger.”

Last year James Ferguson enjoyed one of the biggest days of his fledgling training career when Deauville Legend claimed the Voltigeur title and he is out to repeat the dose with Canberra Legend, who also carries the silks of owner Boniface Ho.

The Australia colt burst onto the scene when winning the Feilden Stakes in impressive style earlier in the season and following encouraging runs at both Royal Ascot and in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, the Kremlin Cottage handler is confident there is still more to come.

“Obviously it’s a big ask for him, but I feel he has been developing throughout the year and crying out for a mile and a half,” said Ferguson.

Canberra Legend in action at the Craven meeting
Canberra Legend in action at the Craven meeting (Tim Goode/PA)

“I thought he ran very well in the Gordon (at Goodwood) and this will teach us a lot about him. I think he is in as good form as I’ve ever had him and the race has cut up enough for me to feel it is worth taking our chance.

“He’s getting better with every run. Put a line through the Dante the last time he went to York and I think he’s probably a bigger price than what he should be.”

Continuous is the sole Aidan O’Brien representative, bringing course form to the table having been third in the Dante.

He was last seen chasing home King Of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes, while two and a half lengths behind Continuous when third at Ascot was Artistic Star, with Ralph Beckett’s runner also having a bit to find with Canberra Legend from when they met on the Sussex Downs recently.

Charlie Appleby’s Castle Way completes the line-up and is another who will have one eye on a visit to Town Moor as he attempts extend his three-race winning streak after adding the Bahrain Trophy to his reappearance win in the Newmarket Stakes.



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Artistic Star to test Leger claims at Goodwood

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Artistic Star will head to the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood next as connections keep half an eye on the St Leger later in the season.

Ralph Beckett’s charge made an impressive debut at Nottingham at the back-end of last year and doubled his tally to remain unbeaten when returning in a hot Sandown novice event in May.

That victory earned the son of Galileo a crack at the Derby where he ran with credit in seventh behind Auguste Rodin and he followed that Epsom outing with another respectable display at Royal Ascot when third to King Of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes.

Having made three appearances in a fairly short space of time, connections made the decision to bypass the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July meeting and Artistic Star will next be seen in Group Three action during the Qatar Goodwood Festival on August 3.

“He’s training very well. We were tempted to run at Newmarket, but we decided not to and we’re going to keep him for the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood,” said David Bowe, racing manager for owner Jeff Smith.

“We’re very happy with the way he’s training and as we’ve been quoted as saying before, he has a late birth date and he has had a few quick runs together, and I think he has benefitted a little bit from a longer time between races now.

“It will hopefully do him the world of good. He’s a very nice horse and well bred and we’re in it to race and have fun, but equally the horse deserves the chance to be the horse we think he could be so we will just give him a little bit of time.”

A strong showing on the Sussex Downs, a place where owner Jeff Smith has enjoyed some memorable days, could lead to a shot at the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 16, with Bowe indicating the team think Town Moor could be the ideal spot for Artistic Star.

He added: “That’s exactly what we think he should be (a Leger horse). He has that sort of profile and trip-wise it looks to be ideal, so who knows. We’re definitely keeping our eye on that option for sure.”



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