A total of 19 contenders remain engaged for the final British classic of
2013, the St Leger at Doncaster on September, 14, after Tuesday’s scratchings
deadline, details of which were revealed Wednesday.
Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has four three-year-olds going
forward headed by Leading Light, who has not raced since annexing the Queen’s
Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot in June. The son of Montjeu captured the
Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh in May and a conditions event by seven lengths
at Navan earlier the same month, both over 10 furlongs.
O’Brien is also responsible for Foundry, who returned from a 290-day absence
to finish second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, to Telescope in the Great Voltigeur
Stakes at York on August 21.
Eye of the Storm, who has not been seen since chasing home Sugar Boy in the
Sandown Classic Trial in April, and Navan maiden scorer Plinth complete
O’Brien’s quartet.
A strong Irish challenge could also include the David Wachman-trained Galileo
Rock, placed in two classics already. He was third in the Derby at Epsom Downs
on June 1 and then second in the Irish Derby at the Curragh four weeks later.
Another Irish hopeful is Dabadiyan, who completed a hat-trick of victories in
Her Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal on July 26. This followed a 3 1/2-length
success in a valuable 12-furlong handicap at the Curragh on June 30 and an
eye-catching maiden victory over the same course and distance on June 9 for the
Aga Khan-owned son of Zamindar.
“We have left Dabidiyan in the St Leger and he will also be left in the Irish
St Leger,” Dabadiyan’s handler Mick Halford reported. “We haven’t made a
decision yet, but he will have a racecourse gallop nearer the time and then we
will make up our mind.
“He has been coming along nicely since his win at Down Royal and I am happy
with him. He was always a big, scopey horse with loads of potential and is a
smashing horse to have anything to do with. He loves good ground, has a
wonderful temperament and is very straightforward.
“When he gets to front he thinks that’s it and that is normally a sign of a
good horse — he would never win by too far. He is not slow and has a bit of tow
but when we stretch him out over longer trips there should be more improvement.”
British champion trainer John Gosden has captured three of the last six St
Legers and could saddle unlucky Gordon Stakes runner-up Excess Knowledge and
Bahrain Trophy scorer Feel Like Dancing.
Godolphin has a brilliant record in the world’s oldest classic, having
enjoyed six successes.
There are three Godolphin contenders remaining including Derby runner-up
Libertarian, trained by Charlie Appleby. He could be joined by Gordon victor Cap
O’Rushes, also trained by Appleby, and Great Voltigeur third Secret Number, from
the stable of Saeed bin Suroor.
Impressive Oaks winner Talent, from the stable of Ralph Beckett, and the
David Elsworth-trained Dashing Star, who captured the Edinburgh Cup in June, are
among the other entries for the St Leger, which is worth a record £600,000 this
year.
There is one final chance for horses to be added to the field for the 2013 St
Leger on September 9, when there is a £45,000 supplementary entry stage.
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