Autumn is here which means it’s time for Doncaster’s St Leger meeting – the final classic of the season.
The meeting kicks off on Wednesday for four days of competitive action, with the St. Leger the highlight of the meeting on Saturday.
Wednesday
The day’s feature race is the Listed Scarborough Stakes over 5 furlongs, a race open to all ages. Medicean Man is the highest rated for Jeremy Gask. The horse was desperately unlucky last time out at the Shergar Cup meeting when finishing second and hopefully he can out that defeat behind him because he is progressing nicely. He seems to love it round Ascot, but I don’t think that track is the key to him and if he is to step up into Group company in future he ought to be capable of winning this en route to bigger things.
Medicean Man: gets Alex’s vote in the Listed Scarborough Stakes
I’m loathe to desert Captain Dunne having fancied him last time out at Beverley. He is a high class performer who was only beaten 3¼ lengths in the Nunthorpe. Since then he was fourth in the Beverley Bullet on ground that may not have been ideal. Duchess Dora and Dinkum Diamond were second and third in the Beverley race. Dinkum Diamond has form at this meeting having finished second in the Flying Childers last year. Group Therapy could be interesting if back to form but I’m sticking with Medicean Man to win again.
Medicean Man was desperately unlucky last time out at the Shergar Cup meeting when finishing second and hopefully he can out that defeat behind him because he is progressing nicely. He seems to love it round Ascot, but I don’t think that track is the key to him and if he is to step up into Group company in future he ought to be capable of winning this en route to bigger things.
Alex Hammond
Quotes of the week
Also on Wednesday I like the look of Alaskan Bullet in the 6 furlongs Conditions race. He won impressively on debut at Yarmouth prompting winning jockey Jamie Spencer to say he was one of the best they (Michael Bell) have this season at the moment. He is sure to improve for that outing too and is worth sticking with.
Thursday
Moving onto Thursday and there are two Group races and a valuable sales race. Starting with the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes and I like Chachamaidee for Sir Henry Cecil. The 7 furlongs is right up her street and the hood has really helped calm her down. If it continues to do the job she can progress beyond Group 3 class and I think she’s the one to beat here. The other Group race is the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes, otherwise known as the Fillies Leger.
Set to Music is an improving middle distance staying filly and she tries the 1m 6f for the first time here having won comfortably in a Listed race at York last time out. The Queen’s filly will face a strong challenge from Ireland not least Sense of Purpose if Dermot Weld chooses to run her at Doncaster rather than in the Irish Leger on Saturday. David Lanigan’s Meeznah disappointed in the Geoffrey Freer last time out but prior to that she had won at Goodwood but her latest start makes you cautious.
I think Set to Music can win this, but I would be less confident if Sense of Purpose comes over for the race. By far the most valuable race on the card on Thursday is the £300,000 Sales race. Bogart is bidding for another huge payday for trainer Kevin Ryan having won a sales race at York and he is the likely favourite. He only has 8st 6lbs to carry, unlike one of his main rivals Reply, the pick of the Aidan O’Brien duo and the mount of son Joseph, who has top weight of 9st 2lbs (weight are determined by the median price of the Sire’s yearlings). Mehdi has been described as an improving horse by trainer Brian Meehan and he is also in there with a shout and I’m going to side with him in a tricky looking race.
Friday
The Doncaster Cup is the feature on Friday and at the time of writing the final declarations have yet to be made. Tastahil though is set to have another crack at the race having finished second last year. He could be the first group winner for rookie trainer Charlie Hills who already has a listed victory under his belt. Tastahil has to put a couple of ordinary efforts behind him but he usually comes to himself at this time of year.
Tactician is one to keep on the right side of after a great run to finish second in the Ebor despite a slipping saddle. He had the option of the Cesarewitch but comes here instead and certainly looks like the step up to this 2¼ miles will suit. (It’s shaping up to be a good week for Newmarket trainer Michael Bell). Motrice stays well and Saddler’s Rock looks like he should be suited by a step up to this trip and is improving. Without the final decs it’s hard to make a call, but I like Tactician and the Sir Mark Prescott trained Motrice.
Saturday
Saturday is Leger day and not just at Doncaster, although I’ll start with the final classic of the British flat season. This year’s contest has shaped up into a superb contest and although there is a short priced favourite it may not be that straightforward. Sea Moon shot to the top of the market after he impressed in the Great Voltigeur at York. He is now 11/10 with Sky Bet for the race and on the face of it a reproduction of the York run makes him hard to beat.
However, Sir Michael Stoute is having his worst season for years and the York form isn’t always working out. He had his ground there – slightly dead – and that may not be the case on Saturday as it’s currently on the quick side with some rain forecast, but maybe not enough for him. But, he is bred for the job being a three parts brother to Leger winner Brian Boru. Blue Bunting is a filly I love. She’s a tough old thing and with the 3lb fillies’ weight allowance she is in there with a strong chance. She was a surprise winner of the 1000 Guineas as the trip was considered too sharp and has since won the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks.
She’s a real fighter too and I think she will give the favourite plenty to think about as she doesn’t give up in a battle and she’s the only proven Group 1 performer in the field (she’s a 7/2 shot). Census (9/2) represents Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. Hughes has a good insight into the favourite having ridden him to win at York when he replaced the injured Ryan Moore, but he has shown his loyalty to his father-in-law Hannon by sticking with this colt. He worked well at Salisbury after racing last week and connections are very happy with him. He won the Geoffrey Freer last time and is progressing. Masked Marvel is an 8/1 chance with Sky Bet. John Gosden’s colt has been freshened up after beating Census in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July. Michael Owen has made the tough decision to ‘jock off’ Brown Panther’s regular partner Richard Kingscote in his bid to win the Leger.
Kieren Fallon is his new partner and he also is looking for his first win in the Doncaster classic. Brown Panther is 9/1 and both owner and trainer Tom Dascombe will no doubt hope Kieren’s big race experience gives them the edge. He was 2nd to Census in the Geoffrey Freer where apparently he needed the run there. Another 9/1 shot is Seville for Aidan O’Brien. The horse has been placed in a host of top races this season without winning. I think this is a proper Leger, one of the best for some years. You can make a case for several of the runners and there would be few surprise results. With the favourite as short as he is I’m going to take a chance on a win for the girls and side with Blue Bunting to cap a superb season for Mahmood Al Zarooni and Frankie Dettori.
The Portland Handicap is the big betting race on Saturday with a huge field guaranteed for this 5½ furlong sprint. The state of the ground will be crucial when making your pick here and that is particularly important for Roger Charlton’s Zero Money who could do with the ground staying on the fast side. The current 7/1 favourite will be bidding to follow up his win at Haydock last weekend over 5 furlongs but fast ground is essential. At 14/1 Joe Packet could be the each way bet in the race. His trainer Johnny Portman is in great form and this is a horse who acts on fast and softer ground. Kieren Fallon maintains his partnership with York Glory (9/1), he won a decent 5 furlong handicap on the horse at York last time out. He is a fairly unexposed improving sort and I like the look of him. Swiss Dream (12/1) is another to consider for David Elsworth. She won a Listed race at Newmarket last time out. At this stage I’m going with York Glory but changing ground conditions could alter that.
Fame and Glory is 11/10 favourite to bounce back to form in the Irish Leger at the Curragh on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien had the pleasure of seeing his So You Think win the Irish Champion Stakes last weekend and he will be hoping this horse can give him another Group 1 winner this season. However, it was a big surprise to see him beaten in the St Leger Trial last time out. That run was nothing like close to his best even given that he probably wasn’t completely tuned up there. His conqueror that day, Fictional Account, takes him on again having been supplemented for the race – she is 14/1 to beat him again and win the race. If the 11/10 doesn’t appeal then Opinion Poll at 5/1 might. He comes here having won his last two for Mahmood Al Zarooni, including the Lonsdale Cup last time where he had a ding dong battle with Duncan (7/1). If Fame and Glory had won the trial he certainly wouldn’t be 11/10 for this race and I’m going to take a chance on him bouncing back.
You can keep up with all the latest racing news and market movers with Alex on Sky Sports News from 6am for the latest Doncaster reports from Thursday onwards.
Alex’s selections
Wednesday
Medicean Man, Scarborough Stakes, Doncaster
Alaskan Bullet, 6f Conditions Stakes, Doncaster
Thursday
Chachamaidee, Sceptre Stakes, Doncaster
Set to Music, Park Hill Stakes, Doncaster
Mehdi, £300,000 Sales race, Doncaster
Friday
Tactician, Doncaster Cup, Doncaster
Saturday
Blue Bunting, St Leger @ 7/2 with Sky Bet, Doncaster
York Glory, Portland Handicap @ 9/1 with Sky Bet, Doncaster
Fame and Glory, Irish St Leger @ 11/10 with Sky Bet, The Curragh
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