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| Staff Writer |
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A formidable Ballydoyle contingent is set to descend upon Doncaster on Saturday as Aidan O'Brien launches a three-pronged assault on the Gr.1 Betfred St Leger. The Irish maestro, seeking an eighth triumph in the world's oldest Classic, has declared Illinois, Jan Brueghel, and Grosvenor Square in a select field of seven for the 1m6½f contest.
Spearheading the O'Brien charge is Illinois, the de-facto yard leader following his Queen's Vase success at Royal Ascot. The colt, already proven over the St Leger trip, enters the fray on the back of creditable placings in the Grand Prix de Paris and Great Voltigeur. With Ryan Moore on duty in Ireland, Wayne Lordan takes the reins, having expressed his excitement earlier in the week.
Complementing Illinois are the unbeaten Jan Brueghel, fresh from his Gordon Stakes triumph at Glorious Goodwood, and Grosvenor Square, who routed his rivals by 20 lengths in the St Leger Trial. Sean Levey and Gavin Ryan have been booked for the mounts, respectively, as O'Brien seeks to follow up last year's success with Continuous.
Adding intrigue to the Classic showdown is Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me, supplemented at a cost of US$63,000. The Ralph Beckett-trained filly, last seen finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks, attempts to emulate Simple Verse's 2016 success as she tackles the extended trip for the first time.
Sunway, runner-up in the Irish Derby, brings more Classic form to the table. The Michael O'Callaghan-trained colt will have the services of Christophe Soumillon for the first time. Meanwhile, Deira Mile, fourth to City Of Troy in the Epsom Derby, adds further depth to a quality field rounded out by dual winner Wild Waves.
The St Leger's illustrious roll of honour includes some of the sport's greatest names. Recent victors such as Continuous (2023), Eldar Eldarov (2022), and Hurricane Lane (2021) have gone on to further Group One glory. O'Brien's previous winners include the likes of Kew Gardens (2018), Capri (2017), and Leading Light (2013), all of whom made their mark in top-level staying contests thereafter.
As the curtain falls on the British Classic season, this year's St Leger promises a thrilling spectacle. With O'Brien's powerful triumvirate facing stern opposition from proven Classic performers and emerging talents, the stage is set for a captivating renewal of this historic race.
The 2023 edition saw Continuous prevail by half a length from Desert Hero, with Arrest filling the third spot. As the final Classic of the season approaches, all eyes will be on Doncaster to see which 3YO etches their name into the annals of racing history.