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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: St Leger
News on the Leger is coming out of the Epsom meeting. The Oaks winner could end up going for this, I'd love to see it.
Quote:
Beckett leaning towards Leger for Look
RALPH BECKETT is favouring a crack at the Ladbrokes St Leger with Look Here rather than trying to complete an Oaks double.
The trainer has all but ruled out running the Juddmonte Oaks winner in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 13 as she needs a decent break between her races.
"I wouldn't rule it out, but I think it's looking increasingly unlikely she'll go to the Curragh," said Beckett.
"She's not very big, she's not very robust and she's only had three starts," he said.
"There's the ground as well. Although it was quick at Lingfield (Oaks Trial), she probably is better with a little dig in the ground and my concern would be that at this stage of her life she'd run her race on the trip over.
"For all those reasons at the moment we are edging away from it."
However, the Whitsbury trainer admits he would dearly love to win the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 13.
"I wouldn't rule that out at all," Beckett went on.
"Quite apart form the time scale - who knows what the ground will be like in mid September - she's obviously going to get a mile and six, or at least you'd have to more than hopeful.
"The track would suit her, it's often a race that is not beyond the realms of possibility for the likes of her and I'd love to win it apart from anything else."
Beckett also has the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on August 21 at the back of his mind.
"The obvious race if we didn't take her to Ireland would be the Yorkshire Oaks," he remarked.
"Although that gives me some time between races I had been a little concerned that Lingfield to Epsom wasn't time enough for her, though it was four weeks. They are a family who are best fresh.
"We've got plenty of time to work it out."
Also the Derby ninth has it as a target :-
Quote:
St Leger plan for Bouguereau
BOUGUEREAU'S season will now be geared towards the Ladbrokes St Leger with connections ruing a chance that got away in Saturday's Vodafone Derby.
Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt was a 100-1 shot at Epsom and finished ninth but his owner Andrew Black feels he would have been closer to New Approach if things had panned out differently.
"It was exciting but like some of the other horses, I think he could have run quite a big race if the jockeys had been a bit more opportunistic," said Black.
"I think we had a horse who definitely stayed. We instructed Alan (Munro) to sit tight off the expected breakneck pace and stay on to see where we finished but the pace just wasn't on.
"They were plodding on for the first mile and it went to the speed horses so I was a bit disappointed and felt we missed an opportunity, along with a few others.
"New Approach and Tartan Bearer were two who looked like they didn't have the stamina."
Looking further ahead, Black continued: "Bouguereau is essentially a Leger horse. I'm not quite sure what we'll do but he's better than people think and at least proved he wasn't a mug horse at the weekend.
"We were written off after the Italian Derby but he finished virtually lame that day and pulled a shoe off and lost half a hoof, so you can strike that race off.
"I think (Chapple-Hyam) will look at the Great Voltigeur as his short-term target and run maybe in France in between."
It would seem that fillies only get a 3lb weight concession in the race, doesn't seem much of an advantage but I guess a lot depends on the quality of rivals that turn up.
Just watched yesterdays race - Patkai was very impressive
Got to love Sir Michael Stoute - Rishi asked him a long rambling question about Tarten Bearer and Patkai and the St Leger - Stoute just said "Sorry what's that race called?" and walked off _________________ Cocktails may not be the answer.... but they help you forget the question Vodka... Cheaper than B otox and paralyses more muscles!
William Hogarth...... Recently a Ballydoyle pacemaker but a decently bred horse in his own right. Sired by dual Derby winner High Chaparral. The dam is also by a dual Derby winner, Shirley Heights ( Starkey rode the winner of Both Derbies and Both Oaks that year )
Lightly raced but loads of high class entries, including both St Legers and the Great Volitger, this horse needs at least a mile and a half, and given recent threads, O`Brien will be desperate for some black type.
The betting is confusing me too. Betfair go 24/1, not much liquidity in the Market but any odds over that have been taken. Betfred go 50/1 most others go 66/1 but Ladbrokes go 100/1.... All High Street firms offer 1/4 odds 1,2,3....
Just an observation but you can bet if he lines up he wont be 100/1. _________________ If at first you dont succeed..then skydiving isnt for you
I made a joke earlier in the season that Richard Hannon's Latin Lad looked the best of the English contingent for the St Leger...on the basis that Sir Mike didn't qualify as an English trainer, but he does look to have a good one in Patkai, and it would be great to see him break his St Leger duck. At the price 7/2 he is though not a betting proposition at the moment.
I'm keeping clear of the Ballydoyle brigade for this race as I can't see any of them coming from the pack. APoB though has a habit of bringing an early season fancied horse through for this, but I don't see a Brian Boru this year.
The two I'm looking at the moment are Savarain who ran very well at Ascot (earnest an impressive topspeed figure of 108 in a 12f handicap off topweight), and as Luca Cumani's only entry will hopefully turn up.
The other horse that must be in with a shout at a big price is Roger Charltons' Clowance. The St Leger has already been nominated as the target, and should Donny have a bit of cut in the ground in September she'll be right at home on a flat track like The Townmoor. The Oaks didn't appear to play to her strengths, and she has the pedigree for a race like this
Will no doubt stay has only had 6 career starts therefore has improvement to come, also from Montjeu. It has been nominated as his target and above all his form is well clear of all other rivals including Patkai who i dont think will be as impressive over 1m6f as he was in a strongly run 2m Queens Vase.
I see poor Maidstone Mixture is entered for this, why not give the poor horse a break and a new owner !
Wilson is a bit of a toe rag, didn't he say he wasn't going to do this type of thing after Epsom. _________________ Tricky Trickster - Grand National Winner 2010
Aidan O'Brien said he's more likely to go for a shot at the Arc instead. That's a bit of a knock for the St Leger. _________________ Tricky Trickster - Grand National Winner 2010
I see poor Maidstone Mixture is entered for this, why not give the poor horse a break and a new owner !
Wilson is a bit of a toe rag, didn't he say he wasn't going to do this type of thing after Epsom.
He has said, in the past, "I am not going to import any more horses from France, there is too much bureaucacy". "I am giving up ownership after this (2008 Cheltenham, I think) because I am being slagged off right left and centre." "I am giving up Flat ownership after the Derby and the one run for Maidstone Mixture."
So who (or more importantly what) do you believe? On the current showing, certainly not Wilson.....
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