The unbeaten Logician spearheads 11 contenders for this weekend William Hill St Leger.
John Gosden’s Sky Bet Great Voltigeur winner will bid to provide his trainer a fifth victory from the Vintage on Town Moor on Saturday and he is a hot favorite to do so after a win at York’s Ebor meeting.
Gosden:”He has been in excellent form since York. He’s a character that is relaxed and he’s got a beautiful large loping stride. I believed then (back in May) this might be a Leger horse.
“He’s come a long way in a limited moment. The nice straight in Doncaster needs to suit him nicely.
“However, it will not only be Aidan and our lone horse, you will find other horses in drama and I’ve mentioned one which won in Goodwood (Sir Ron Priestly). It’s more detail to the field than individuals are making out.”
There are 10 potential runners standing in his manner and Aidan O’Brien – that has trained six Leger winners previously including the last two variations – is responsible for six of these.
Leading the Ballydoyle package is like taking his opportunity at 25, Investec Derby fourth Sir Dragonet, while Lonsdale Cup third Il Paradiso looks.
Sir Dragonet was beaten under a span at Epsom prior to returning to the track to finish third in the Royal Whip Stakes.
O’Brien explained:”We are very satisfied with him. He had a break after the Derby and then the plan was to visit the Curragh and maybe we would take a look at the Arc then run.
“But now Japan and Magical are there and things are changing all the time.
“The William Hill St Leger is an essential and prestigious race and we felt like there had been a fantastic chance that he would get that trip.
“He was just ready to start in the Curragh and he got a little bit tired which he was competent to perform as I was being very careful and gentle .
“It was the first time he had run over that excursion. He’d always been over a mile and a half. He is not short of course and he’s not short of pace so it’ll be interesting.”
Il Paradiso is to join in the final field after his run behind Stradivarius. The three-year-old looked to be running a big race at the Lonsdale Cup before Stradivarius and being run out of the end by two stayers at Dee Ex Bee.
O’Brien said:”He stays well and that is the reason why we conducted him in York. We believed that he was worth taking a shot and that he ran a race.
“It was a great run to get a three-year-old. He seems like a horse that will get the Gold Cup excursion in time has lots of stamina.
“However, I think he will be glad enough falling to this particular trip, he doesn’t mind being ridden ahead and we’ll ride him as if we’re sure that he stays.”
The O’Brien group is finished Western Australia, Norway, South Pacific and by Barbados.
Whilst Middleham handler Mark Johnston includes two candidates in the six-day stage in Sir Ron Priestley and Nayef Road andrew Balding’s Royal Ascot enthusiast Dashing Willoughby could take his chance.
The listing of Possible runners is finished from the Martyn Meade-trained Technician at Newbury when last seen.
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