Latest St Leger press release:
SEA MOON AND BLUE BUNTING AMONG 17 EYEING LADBROKES ST LEGER GLORY AS BALDING LOOKS TO WHIPLASH WILLIE
Sea Moon, ante-post favourite at 6/4 with sponsor Ladbrokes, heads 17 horses going forward for the £500,000 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger (3.05pm) at Doncaster on Saturday, September 10, following the August 23 scratchings deadline
Sir Michael Stouteâs lightly-raced charge earned his position at the head of the market for the worldâs oldest Classic with a stunning eight-length triumph in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes over 12 furlongs at York on August 17. That win was his third from four career starts.
Stoute saddled his first Ladbrokes St Leger winner in 2008 when Conduit prevailed. The brilliant colt went on to win the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as back-to-back renewals of the Grade One Breedersâ Cup Turf.
A fantastic renewal of the Ladbrokes St Leger is on the cards this year with the news that Godolphinâs Blue Bunting (9/2 second-favourite), who added the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks to Classic victories in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Darley Irish Oaks, is a possible starter for the race.
Mahmood Al Zarooniâs charge could bid to become the first 1,000 Guineas heroine to win the Ladbrokes St Leger since the extraordinary Oh So Sharp in 1985. The most recent filly to win the race, the outstanding User Friendly, was also the last to complete the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Ladbrokes St Leger treble when successful in 1992.
The Richard Hannon-trained Census (5/1) landed the Group Three CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on August 13, from Brown Panther (12/1) who is owned by Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen.
Another with the Ladbrokes St Leger on his agenda is the Andrew Balding-trained Whiplash Willie (33/1). The Phoenix Reach colt could attempt to improve upon the effort of his triple Group/Grade One-winning sire, who was third for Balding behind Brian Boru in the 2003 renewal.
Whiplash Willie landed competitive handicaps at Salisbury and Glorious Goodwood earlier this summer. The progressive individual was a creditable runner-up when conceding 8lb to the victorious Parlour Games in the Melrose Handicap over a mile and six furlongs at York on August 20.
Balding revealed today: âWhiplash Willie would want plenty of rain that week but the Ladbrokes St Leger is certainly an option. He stays well and, while it is obviously a massive jump in class for him, somebody has got to finish third or fourth.
âHis sire ran well in the race and he is tough, he just wouldnât want the ground too fast.
âIt was a good effort at York last week. He travelled well and he is improving with each run, so we are very pleased with him. He is going to be a fun horse for next year and it will be nice to have a fun day out at Doncaster - hopefully he can run well.â
Of the 17 entries remaining, five are trained in Ireland by Aidan OâBrien. Seville (8/1) heads the quintet having been placed second in a brace of Group One contests, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris, before filling third spot behind Sea Moon at York.
OâBrien has won the Ladbrokes St Leger previously with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). Irelandâs champion trainer could also run Wonder Of Wonders, placed in the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as Melrose Handicap third Apache, Freedom and Regent Street.
John Gosden saddled Arctic Cosmos to land the spoils in 2010, having also scored with Shantou (1996) and Lucarno (2007). This year he may run Masked Marvel, who defeated Census to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July, as well as the progressive Buthelezi and Thimaar.
The Mark Johnston-trained Namibian proved his stamina when winning the Group Three Queenâs Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot and then exhibited speed to triumph over 12 furlongs in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood but was a below par fifth in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last time, one place behind the Al Zarooni-trained Genius Beast. Johnston may also saddle Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial winner, Dordogne.
Well Sharp finished third to Brown Panther in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot but Michael Dodsâ charge was last of 10 behind Namibian at Goodwood last time.
Ladbrokes St Leger Day on Saturday, September 10, is the final day of the four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, which commences on Wednesday, September 7.
Latest sponsorâs betting for the Ladbrokes St Leger: 6/4 Sea Moon, 9/2 Blue Bunting, 5/1 Census, 8/1 Seville, 8/1 Masked Marvel, 12/1 Brown Panther, 14/1 Namibian, 25/1 Wonder Of Wonders, 33/1 Whiplash Willie, 40/1 Apache, 40/1 Thimaar, 66/1 Buthelezi, 66/1 Genius Beast, 66/1 Regent Street, 100/1 Dordogne, 150/1 Freedom, 200/1 Well Sharp
Saturdayâs exciting card also features the prestigious £100,000 Group Two Park Stakes (3.40pm) over seven furlongs, which is contested under Group One conditions.
Among the 17 going forward at the latest scratchings stage are a pair of Group One winners, Zoffany and Wootton Bassett, who both scored at the highest level as juveniles last year.
Zoffany, trained by Aidan OâBrien, disappointed on soft ground at Deauville last time behind Moonlight Cloud in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest but got to within three quarters of a length of the mighty Frankel when runner-up in the Group One St Jamesâs Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Wootton Bassett, successful in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last term, was fifth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs on August 7.
James Fanshawe could saddle the progressive Deacon Blues who landed the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June and has since flourished n Pattern company, most recently when storming to an easy success over six furlongs in a Curragh Group Three on August 7.
Chachamaidee, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, took the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time, while the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Delegator won the Group Two Duke of York Stakes at York in May. Suroor could also saddle Godolphinâs Rainfall, winner of the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2010 and twice placed at Group One level that year.
Balthazaarâs Gift landed the spoils for trainer Clive Cox (who could also saddle Beacon Lodge) in 2010, while Duff, a close fourth that day, was successful in 2009 for trainer Edward Lynam.
Other potential runners include Premio Loco, trained by Chris Wall, who was runner-up in 2010, and the Charles OâBrien-trained Bewitched, a multiple Group Three winner.
Saturdayâs fantastic card also features the £75,000 Group Two One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes (2pm) for two-year-olds over seven furlongs.
The prestigious contest, a pointer to the following seasonâs Classics, has 32 horses remaining at the latest scratchings stage including the Aidan OâBrien-trained Power, winner of the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and runner-up to La Collina in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on August 7. OâBrien is responsible for seven of the eight remaining Irish entries.
The John Quinn-trained Red Duke landed the Group Two Superlative Stakes over the distance at Newmarket in July before finishing an unlucky third to Chandlery in the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, while Caspar Netscher won the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York on August 19 for trainer Alan McCabe.
The William Haggas-trained Entifaadha is unbeaten in two starts and won the Group Three Acomb Stakes over the distance at York on August 17, while the Jeremy Noseda-trained Talwar has won his last three races, most recently the Group Three Sunshine Coaches Solario Stakes at Sandown on August 20.
Thursday, September 8, sees the staging of the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (2.25pm) over an extended six furlongs, which has 121 going forward at the scratchings stage.
The four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival runs from Wednesday, September 7, through to Saturday, September 10, inclusive.
For further information and to book tickets, please go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
SEA MOON AND BLUE BUNTING AMONG 17 EYEING LADBROKES ST LEGER GLORY AS BALDING LOOKS TO WHIPLASH WILLIE
Sea Moon, ante-post favourite at 6/4 with sponsor Ladbrokes, heads 17 horses going forward for the £500,000 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger (3.05pm) at Doncaster on Saturday, September 10, following the August 23 scratchings deadline
Sir Michael Stouteâs lightly-raced charge earned his position at the head of the market for the worldâs oldest Classic with a stunning eight-length triumph in the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes over 12 furlongs at York on August 17. That win was his third from four career starts.
Stoute saddled his first Ladbrokes St Leger winner in 2008 when Conduit prevailed. The brilliant colt went on to win the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as back-to-back renewals of the Grade One Breedersâ Cup Turf.
A fantastic renewal of the Ladbrokes St Leger is on the cards this year with the news that Godolphinâs Blue Bunting (9/2 second-favourite), who added the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks to Classic victories in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Darley Irish Oaks, is a possible starter for the race.
Mahmood Al Zarooniâs charge could bid to become the first 1,000 Guineas heroine to win the Ladbrokes St Leger since the extraordinary Oh So Sharp in 1985. The most recent filly to win the race, the outstanding User Friendly, was also the last to complete the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and Ladbrokes St Leger treble when successful in 1992.
The Richard Hannon-trained Census (5/1) landed the Group Three CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on August 13, from Brown Panther (12/1) who is owned by Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen.
Another with the Ladbrokes St Leger on his agenda is the Andrew Balding-trained Whiplash Willie (33/1). The Phoenix Reach colt could attempt to improve upon the effort of his triple Group/Grade One-winning sire, who was third for Balding behind Brian Boru in the 2003 renewal.
Whiplash Willie landed competitive handicaps at Salisbury and Glorious Goodwood earlier this summer. The progressive individual was a creditable runner-up when conceding 8lb to the victorious Parlour Games in the Melrose Handicap over a mile and six furlongs at York on August 20.
Balding revealed today: âWhiplash Willie would want plenty of rain that week but the Ladbrokes St Leger is certainly an option. He stays well and, while it is obviously a massive jump in class for him, somebody has got to finish third or fourth.
âHis sire ran well in the race and he is tough, he just wouldnât want the ground too fast.
âIt was a good effort at York last week. He travelled well and he is improving with each run, so we are very pleased with him. He is going to be a fun horse for next year and it will be nice to have a fun day out at Doncaster - hopefully he can run well.â
Of the 17 entries remaining, five are trained in Ireland by Aidan OâBrien. Seville (8/1) heads the quintet having been placed second in a brace of Group One contests, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris, before filling third spot behind Sea Moon at York.
OâBrien has won the Ladbrokes St Leger previously with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005). Irelandâs champion trainer could also run Wonder Of Wonders, placed in the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, as well as Melrose Handicap third Apache, Freedom and Regent Street.
John Gosden saddled Arctic Cosmos to land the spoils in 2010, having also scored with Shantou (1996) and Lucarno (2007). This year he may run Masked Marvel, who defeated Census to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July, as well as the progressive Buthelezi and Thimaar.
The Mark Johnston-trained Namibian proved his stamina when winning the Group Three Queenâs Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot and then exhibited speed to triumph over 12 furlongs in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood but was a below par fifth in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last time, one place behind the Al Zarooni-trained Genius Beast. Johnston may also saddle Group Three Lingfield Derby Trial winner, Dordogne.
Well Sharp finished third to Brown Panther in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot but Michael Dodsâ charge was last of 10 behind Namibian at Goodwood last time.
Ladbrokes St Leger Day on Saturday, September 10, is the final day of the four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, which commences on Wednesday, September 7.
Latest sponsorâs betting for the Ladbrokes St Leger: 6/4 Sea Moon, 9/2 Blue Bunting, 5/1 Census, 8/1 Seville, 8/1 Masked Marvel, 12/1 Brown Panther, 14/1 Namibian, 25/1 Wonder Of Wonders, 33/1 Whiplash Willie, 40/1 Apache, 40/1 Thimaar, 66/1 Buthelezi, 66/1 Genius Beast, 66/1 Regent Street, 100/1 Dordogne, 150/1 Freedom, 200/1 Well Sharp
Saturdayâs exciting card also features the prestigious £100,000 Group Two Park Stakes (3.40pm) over seven furlongs, which is contested under Group One conditions.
Among the 17 going forward at the latest scratchings stage are a pair of Group One winners, Zoffany and Wootton Bassett, who both scored at the highest level as juveniles last year.
Zoffany, trained by Aidan OâBrien, disappointed on soft ground at Deauville last time behind Moonlight Cloud in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest but got to within three quarters of a length of the mighty Frankel when runner-up in the Group One St Jamesâs Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Wootton Bassett, successful in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last term, was fifth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs on August 7.
James Fanshawe could saddle the progressive Deacon Blues who landed the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June and has since flourished n Pattern company, most recently when storming to an easy success over six furlongs in a Curragh Group Three on August 7.
Chachamaidee, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, took the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time, while the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Delegator won the Group Two Duke of York Stakes at York in May. Suroor could also saddle Godolphinâs Rainfall, winner of the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2010 and twice placed at Group One level that year.
Balthazaarâs Gift landed the spoils for trainer Clive Cox (who could also saddle Beacon Lodge) in 2010, while Duff, a close fourth that day, was successful in 2009 for trainer Edward Lynam.
Other potential runners include Premio Loco, trained by Chris Wall, who was runner-up in 2010, and the Charles OâBrien-trained Bewitched, a multiple Group Three winner.
Saturdayâs fantastic card also features the £75,000 Group Two One Call Insurance Champagne Stakes (2pm) for two-year-olds over seven furlongs.
The prestigious contest, a pointer to the following seasonâs Classics, has 32 horses remaining at the latest scratchings stage including the Aidan OâBrien-trained Power, winner of the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and runner-up to La Collina in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on August 7. OâBrien is responsible for seven of the eight remaining Irish entries.
The John Quinn-trained Red Duke landed the Group Two Superlative Stakes over the distance at Newmarket in July before finishing an unlucky third to Chandlery in the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, while Caspar Netscher won the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York on August 19 for trainer Alan McCabe.
The William Haggas-trained Entifaadha is unbeaten in two starts and won the Group Three Acomb Stakes over the distance at York on August 17, while the Jeremy Noseda-trained Talwar has won his last three races, most recently the Group Three Sunshine Coaches Solario Stakes at Sandown on August 20.
Thursday, September 8, sees the staging of the Weatherbys Insurance £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (2.25pm) over an extended six furlongs, which has 121 going forward at the scratchings stage.
The four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival runs from Wednesday, September 7, through to Saturday, September 10, inclusive.
For further information and to book tickets, please go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
