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| Sumita Pawar |
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John and Thady Gosden are looking to make a strong presence in the upcoming St Leger at Doncaster, with the possibility of having three runners in the prestigious race. As one of the most successful trainers in the history of the event, John Gosden is aiming for his sixth victory in the final Classic of the season.
Leading the charge for the Gosden team is Gregory, who will have the talented jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle for his final ride in the Doncaster showpiece. Gregory's last outing was in the Sky Vet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York's Ebor festival, where he finished third. Despite losing his unbeaten record on that day, Gosden was pleased with the performance. This was primarily because Gregory, who had previously won the Queen's Vase, was stepping back in distance and carrying a penalty at the Knavesmire.
With their wealth of experience and a strong contender like Gregory, the Gosden team is surely a force to be reckoned with in the Betfred St Leger. As the anticipation builds for the race, racing enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome and the potential achievement of another Gosden triumph.
Gosden said “Gregory went a little quick early in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. When I saw the early fractions, I thought ‘We’ve just gone inside 12 seconds for a furlong’. I think there were three of them trying to make the lead in order to boss the race and they all got into a scramble early on. You’re not going to do those fractions over the first three furlongs and finish a race. It was obvious where the winner came from, he was 20-lengths out the back. He actually ran a very good race and when Frankie put his hands down he galloped out well to the line and after the line.”
John Gosden’s Dream Team: Inside The Stable Of St Leger Hopefuls
John Gosden, the renowned horse trainer, is eagerly preparing his Betfred St Leger contenders for the upcoming race. Among his hopefuls are Gregory, Arrest, Middle Earth, and Lion's Pride. However, there is one particular horse that Gosden is determined to see triumph over its formidable rival, Continuous.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Continuous had previously finished a remarkable five lengths ahead of Gregory at the York race. Despite this setback, Gosden remains optimistic about his chances in the St Leger. He believes that the young colt, sired by the legendary Golden Horn, has the potential to handle the relatively short time period between races. With unwavering determination, Gosden and his team are ready to put their faith in the promising colt and strive for victory in the prestigious St Leger.
Gosden said “He came out of the race at York in very good order. If the weather is set fair at Doncaster that won’t bother him with it being top of the ground. I have had some luck going from the Voltigeur to the St Leger but I often feel it is quite close if they have had a hard race and I have had a couple bounce, that can happen. I’m very pleased with him at this stage, he seems in great order and very content in himself. He’s got a great mind and he is a pretty laid-back character. I trained both the mother and father and he’s inherited all their good traits of their mental attitude towards racing.”
“He was just a big boy (as a two-year-old). He’s a very tall horse and he just needed to fill his frame out. We gave him all the time he required and he’s done nothing but shine this year. I think he’ll enjoy the distance. We are perfectly aware it looks like being a vintage St Leger.”
Gregory is set to be partnered by the legendary jockey, Frankie Dettori, for his final ride in a British Classic. Dettori has been a crucial part of trainer John Gosden's successful St Leger campaigns, having won the race with Shantou in 1996 and Logician in 2019. Gosden hopes that Dettori, a six-time winner of the Classic, can add another victory to his already remarkable year.
Gosden expressed his satisfaction with Dettori's performance on the world tour, highlighting his recent triumphs in prestigious races such as the Prix Jacques Le Marois, Juddmonte International, Ascot Gold Cup, 2000 Guineas, and the Dubai Turf. As the year comes to a close, Gosden believes that a win at Doncaster in the final Classic would be the perfect way to cap off this remarkable year.
Joining Gregory in the race is Middle Earth, the impressive winner of the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap. However, Middle Earth will need to be supplemented for the race. The talented colt, owned by Qatar Racing, showcased his progress by dominating the staying handicap at York. Gosden expressed his satisfaction with Middle Earth's performance and believes that he has a strong chance of being supplemented.
The trainer commended jockey Oisin Murphy for his impressive ride and noted that Middle Earth has always shown promise, despite facing a few setbacks along the way.
Gosden also mentioned the possibility of Arrest, the favorite for the Betfred Derby in June, participating in the St Leger. After a remarkable victory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, Arrest's confidence has been restored. The Frankel colt seemed more comfortable on softer ground, and Gosden stated that his participation in the St Leger would depend on the ground conditions at Doncaster. If the ground is not suitable, Arrest may be redirected to the Prix Chaudenay in Paris.