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Kingston Hill heads 15 remaining in St Leger
"We are pretty confident Kingston Hill will get the trip. The truth will be in the test on Saturday as he has never run over the distance before. He was ridden aggressively in the Derby from an inside draw and he had every chance to shape like a non-stayer at Epsom, but he galloped all the way to the line. (Jockey) Andrea (Atzeni) has always felt he would get the trip and I am sure he will do so." Owner Khalid Abdullah has won every British classic at least once, with his one St Leger victory coming courtesy of Toulon in 1991. In 2014, his famous silks are likely to be carried by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair of Snow Sky (5-1) and Kings Fete (16-1). Snow Sky warmed up for Doncaster by taking the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and finishing second in the Great Voltigeur. The headstrong Kings Fete progressed well in handicaps before taking third behind Forever Now and Alex My Boy in the March Stakes at Goodwood. "Both Snow Sky and Kings Fete will run," Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, commented. "Kings Fete worked his way on to the team on Saturday morning and both Michael and the Prince were keen for him to take his chance. King Fete needs to settle a bit better on the track but Michael has always had a high opinion of him and he definitely has ability. He is just still a bit of a work in process. "James Doyle will have the choice of both, although I imagine he will ride Snow Sky. I know there is young up and coming jockey at Michael's called Ryan Moore and will ride the other one!" Richard Hannon Jr. is in his first season as a trainer having taken over from his father at the start of 2014 and is set to saddle Windshear (8-1) on Saturday. The Hurricane Run colt has been in good form if slightly frustrating this season, having finished runner-up on his last four starts. Most recently, he went down by a neck in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 30. Hannon's East Everleigh yard is most associated with sprinters and milers with Hannon Sr. having only sent out two St Leger runners during his 43-year career -- Census (fifth in 2011) and Assessor (sixth in 1992). "I think Windshear was very unlucky not to beat Snow Sky last time out at Goodwood and I think the extra distance will suit him. He has had a nice break, put on weight and looks well. We are very pleased with him. "The St Leger has always been a target for this horse, particularly as he has been running on so well over a mile and a half. We are not known as a trainer of stayers as we have been pigeon-holed by you lot (the media). So if he does win, you better be ready for me! "We purchased him at Deauville as something a bit different, a horse to get a trip and he certainly does that. "He also is a horse for next year. There have been offers for him from Australia but he is a good horse and we don't want to lose him. John Gosden has three entries -- Derby third Romsdal, March winner Forever Now and Great Voltigeur fourth Marzocco as he chases a fifth win in the race. "The St Leger is a race with good depth," Gosden said from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "The ground is likely to be on the quicker side of good on Saturday but they will be fine. "When I get back in mid-week, I will talk to (stable rider) William (Buick) and see what he way he wants to go -- I will leave that to him. Every time I make a decision for him, I get it wrong. "I am very pleased with Forever Now who won at Goodwood and has matured fast -- he is still a big frame of a horse but he will stay the trip well. We will drop him out and he will stay well. "The thing about the St Leger is the last furlong and a half - one furlong and 132 yards. Romsdal ran great in the Derby but disappointed in the King George. But he seemed in good form at the weekend and we have given him plenty of time to come to his strength. He will stay on his dam's side. "Marzocco may find the trip a bit sharp but apart from that will run well." Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has also won the St Leger four times in total, most recently in 2013 with Leading Light. Irish Derby runner-up Kingfisher (16-1 with Ladbrokes) and Great Voltigeur Stakes fifth Granddukeoftuscany (20-1) are Ballydoyle's two remaining entries although O'Brien stressed that only the latter is likely to make the trip to Doncaster on Saturday. "We have left two in, but at this stage it is Granddukeoftuscany that is most likely to run as Kingfisher is more likely to head to Leopardstown (for Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes). "I don't know who will ride yet. The horses will do their last piece of work tomorrow and we will decide then. It depends on who is going to Leopardstown and who will be available for Doncaster." Hope of keeping the St Leger prize in Yorkshire rest with Middleham-based Mark Johnston, who could have three representatives in Hartnell (14-1), Alex My Boy (6-1) and Somewhat (33-1). Hartnell has scored in two trials for the St Leger, having taken the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's Bahrain Trophy. Alex My Boy has proved a highly progressive performer in handicap company and went down by a short-head last time out in the March Stakes, while Somewhat belied his 100-1 odds to take third in the Eclipse. Johnston has had six runners in the St Leger, faring best with Double Trigger (1994), Bandari (2003) and Corsica (2010), who all finished third. Deirdre Johnston, Mark Johnston's wife and assistant trainer, said Monday: "I think at the moment if the ground stays good, the plan is to run all three horses. "Hartnell goes on any ground but we would prefer it to be on soft side for him, like the ground when he won the Bahrain Trophy. "The same applies to Alex My Boy and if the ground went faster than good, he would probably not run. Alternatively, if the ground went good to soft or softer, then Somewhat wouldn't run. So the scenario at the moment with the ground the way it is, all three would run. "We've been placed going all the way back to Double Tigger and then with Bandari and Corsica and have punched above our weight once or twice. I think that if the ground was a bit softer, both Alex My Box and Hartnell would have fantastic chances. "Joe Fanning has the pick of what to ride and he will probably side with Hartnell. We have also spoken to Ryan Moore and he is waiting on the Khalid Abdullah-owned horses. It is only in the last day or two with the ground changing that we have had the possibility of three runners so we are just starting to see what we would do if all three run." On the St Leger undercard, Estidhkaar and Richard Pankhurst are two of the star names among 15 juveniles still in contention for the Group 2 Champagne Stakes. The Hannon-trained Estidhkaar has not been seen since an ultra-impressive victory in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting and will be a popular choice to follow up on Town Moor. Richard Pankhurst has not been seen since streaking clear in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot for Gosden and has been snapped up to run in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. In other St Leger Festival news: The four-day St Leger Festival opens Wednesday, featuring the five-furlong Scarbrough Stakes. Star sprinter Reckless Abandon, in his second start back from stud duty, will face nine rivals, including multiple Group 1 veteran Kingsgate Native. Thursday is Ladies Day, highlighted by the Group 2 Park Hill over the St Leger course and distance as well as the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes at seven furlongs. Connections of Arabian Comet are hoping the three-year-old can secure her first pattern race victory in the Park Hill. The daughter of Dubawi, trained by William Haggas, was a fast-finishing nose second to stablemate Ice Queen on her most recent outing in the 12-furlong Galtres Stakes at York on August 21. She also finished strongly to snatch second behind star Irish mare Missunited in the Lillie Langtry Stakes over 1 3/4 miles at Glorious Goodwood on July 31. "She is an improving filly and I thought it was a great run at York," Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Abdulla Al Mansoori, said. "Immediately afterwards, William nominated the Park Hill so we are very hopeful. I think the step back up in trip will definitely benefit her." Also heading up the entries for the Park Hill are last year's British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Seal of Approval from the James Fanshawe yard and three-time Group 1 runner-up Venus De Milo from Ballydoyle. The Brian Meehan-trained J Wonder headlines 24 entries for the Sceptre. The three-year-old got the better of Johnston's tough sophomore Muteela in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood last time out and could clash with Stoute's impressive York handicap scorer Bragging. The most valuable race on the card is the £300,000 Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Two-Year-Old Stakes over an extended six furlongs, for which a total of 75 juveniles remain eligible. Friday's program is anchored by the Group 2 Doncaster Cup, where Times Up seeks to join an exclusive club of three-time winners. The Queen's Estimate, heroine of last year's Ascot Gold Cup, and Ebor victor Mutual Regard present formidable opposition in the 2 1/4-mile marathon. Muraaqaba, a ready winner of the Sweet Solera Stakes on her latest start for Johnston, headlines 12 two-year-old fillies in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes over a mile. Irish Group 3 runner-up Agnes Stewart could also line up, while Hannon can chose between Marsh Hawk and Shagah. The Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at five furlongs could prove a rematch of the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood, with the respective top three -- Cotai Glory, Fast Act and Beacon -- all still engaged. The seven-furlong Flying Scotsman Stakes, also for the juvenile set, may lure hot York maiden winner White Lake and Acomb near-misser Toocoolforschool. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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