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| Staff Writer |
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Owen Burrows has confirmed that the Betfred St Leger remains the target for Deira Mile following his narrow defeat at Windsor on Saturday.
Making his first appearance since finishing fourth behind City Of Troy in the Gr.1 Derby in early June, the Camelot colt was sent off favourite for the Listed August Stakes. However, he was unable to reel in the front-running Sea Of Roses, who clung on by a neck under a well-judged ride from Hayley Turner.
While frustrated to suffer defeat, Burrows remains positive as he targets the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 14.
"It was disappointing not to win, but it was bit of a messy race, so I wasn't too disappointed with the performance as such," he said.
"It would have been asking a lot to go to a Leger without a prep run, so I was pleased to get one into him. It was probably half a furlong shorter than ideal and a messy old race, but fair play to Hayley, she got her fractions spot-on and we couldn't quite get by."
The Lambourn handler added: "I was happy as you can be for finishing second and we'll go straight to the Leger now. I don't see any reason to change plans, so we'll head to Doncaster."
The Gr.1 St Leger, run over 1m6½f, is the oldest of the five Classics and the longest in distance. Recent winners have gone on to achieve further Group One success, with 2022 victor Eldar Eldarov subsequently landing the British Champions Long Distance Cup, while 2021 heroine Hurricane Lane had previously won the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris.
Deira Mile, who races in the colours of Shadwell Estate Company, will be bidding to provide Burrows with his first Classic success. The colt's sire, Camelot, achieved the rare feat of winning both the Gr.1 2,000 Guineas and the Gr.1 Derby in 2012, before finishing second in the St Leger when attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky in 1970.
With a current prize fund of £750,000 (approximately US$950,000), the St Leger represents a significant target for connections. Burrows will be hoping Deira Mile can build on his Windsor run and prove effective over the extended trip at Doncaster.