The final British Classic of the season is the St Leger 2024 at Doncaster on Saturday 14th September as the three-year-old crop get set for their ultimate stamina examination over the extended mile-and-three-quarters on the famous Town Moor turf. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is enjoying a stellar season and is seeking to win the St Leger for the fourth time since 2017. Here we assess five of the leading hopes for Doncaster glory.
St Leger 2024: Illinois
Aidan O’Brien dominates the list of probable St Leger contenders and it is Illinois that seemingly spearheads the Ballydoyle handler’s cast this time around. The son of Galileo won the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 1m6f at Royal Ascot in June and has twice since finished second in major races in France and Britain over shorter. He was a neck behind stablemate Los Angeles in a Great Voltigeur Stakes thriller at York and both are possible Leger contenders for the Irish trainer.
St Leger 2024: Los Angeles
He’s only tasted defeat once in his career, when third behind City Of Troy in the Epsom Derby, and he managed to hold off Illinois at York despite conceding him a 5lb penalty. But there was no masking the fact that Ryan Moore’s partner was crying out for the line on the Knavesmire and the extra two-and-a-half-furlongs – potentially on sticky Doncaster ground – could ask major questions. His trainer has suggested Los Angeles will either run in the St Leger or the Irish Champion Stakes on this particular afternoon.
St Leger 2024: Ancient Wisdom
Godolphin landed their seventh St Leger – and a first for Charlie Appleby – when Hurricane Lane scored under William Buick in 2021 and the boys in blue may be hoping Ancient Wisdom has the credentials for Doncaster now.
The son of Dubawi has five wins in eight career starts. He was all at sea in the Derby at Epsom in June but rebounded to win a Newmarket Group 3 upped in distance in June and stamina could be his forte.
St Leger 2024: Deira Mile
Another UK-based contender could be Deira Mile for Owen Burrows. His sire Camelot was an agonising second in this contest in 2012 when seeking to become the first horse since Nijinsky to win the Triple Crown.
After a promising run in the Derby, Deira Mile went to Windsor for the August Stakes on his only run since and he was just unable to get by Sea Of Roses in a tactical race over a trip shy of a mile-and-a-half. He remains low-mileage with untapped potential over this sort of distance and could be a lively outsider.
St Leger 2024: Kinesiology
Jessica Harrington may harbour hopes of a St Leger tilt with this Study Of Man colt despite seeing his win in the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown over a similar trip overturned by the stewards in favour of Chemistry.
Shane Foley’s partner did appear to wander into the second-past-the-post in that race, but he galloped strongly through the line just the same on what his first go at the trip and he’s another possible outsider of note.
By Rob Eddy
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