 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
The result of the Betfred St Leger may not have been what racing enthusiasts hoped for, but the presence of the King and Queen, passionately cheering on Desert Hero to a valiant third place, created an atmosphere of grandeur at Doncaster.
Trainer William Haggas, although disappointed at not securing a royal Classic victory for the first time in 46 years since the late Queen's Dunfermline triumphed in the Leger in 1977, understood the significance of having the King and Queen attend the final Classic race of the season. This occasion also marked Frankie Dettori's final ride in such a race, adding to the sense of spectacle.
There were previous speculations that the King may not share his mother's love and enthusiasm for racing. However, these doubts have been dispelled, as the evident joy displayed by the King during Desert Hero's victory at Royal Ascot in June has reignited the nation's interest in the royal racing colors.
From Framing To Horse Racing: A Day In The Life Of A Diverse King
Having inaugurated a farming and rural skills center in Dumfries earlier in the day, the King hurried to South Yorkshire to witness his Sea The Stars colt in action. Despite the challenging combination of soft ground and an extended mile and three-quarters, which may have stretched Desert Hero, along with the exceptional performance of the winner, Continuous, Haggas recognized the significance of the day for Doncaster and the racing community as a whole.
“It’s been a brilliant day and brilliant the King and the Queen have come, the crowd have embraced them, they seemed to have enjoyed it and they’ve been very enthusiastic,” said Haggas.
“I haven’t really had time to think about today this week as we’ve been so busy at home, but this horse is doing really well, he gets a bit sweaty but that is him. Physically he is thriving, he’s a very nice horse and a good effort for a first foal from the mare (Desert Breeze, bred by the late Queen).
“It’s been fantastic, the King has been embraced by the crowd, they both have, they’ve been very excited all week and OK he didn’t win but he ran with great credit and I’m sure they are very proud of him. It’s an all-round good day.”
As for the future, a trip to the Melbourne Cup has not yet been ruled out.
“I thought he ran a great race, he was just a little bit on it early and he really wants a mile and a half and a faster gallop. He’s going to be a very, very nice horse,” Haggas went on. “I don’t know about the Melbourne Cup, that’s not my decision and it still needs to be discussed, hopefully we’ll make a decision quickly, well we have to because he’ll need to go into quarantine.
“He’s had a race there and he’s given his all, so I’m very proud of him. I’m thrilled his owners were here to see him.
“Tom didn’t blame the trip, I don’t think, he blamed the pace early which was a bit gentle for him but sensible in the conditions. He’ll be better with a faster pace and then he can take his time. He ran a good race and he beat Chesspiece a fair way this time, it’s probably a career-best so I can’t complain.
“As for next year a lot will depend on whether he goes for the Melbourne Cup, but he looks to me like a Hardwicke/King George horse. The Melbourne Cup is still on the table, but we said we wouldn’t discuss it until after this race because we’ve just been discussing this.”