Classic winners among 42 St Leger nominees

Classic winners among 42 St Leger nominees

English (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) heroine winner SNOW FAIRY (Intikhab) and Irish Derby

(Ire-G1) hero CAPE BLANCO (Galileo [Ire]) are among 42

entries revealed on Wednesday for the world's oldest classic, the

St Leger (Eng-G1) at Doncaster on September 11.

The extended 1 3/4-miles contest, which carries prize

money of £500,000, was first run in 1776 and is the fifth and final classic of

the

English flat turf season.

Snow Fairy could bid to give trainer Ed Dunlop a first St Leger

victory

after she complemented her triumph at Epsom in June

with a stunning eight-length victory in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday. The last filly to add the St Leger to that

classic double was

User Friendly in 1992.

Cape Blanco, among 12 Irish-trained entries and one of 11 in the care of

Irish

champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, clinched the Irish

Derby over 1 1/2 miles at the Curragh on June 27, having previously

defeated Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner Workforce (King's Best) in the Dante S.

(Eng-G2) at

York in May.

O'Brien has three St Leger triumphs to his name already (Milan [GB] [2001], Brian Boru

[GB] [2003], Scorpion [Ire] [2005]). Alongside Cape Blanco, the typically strong

Ballydoyle contingent also includes last season's champion juvenile colt ST

NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu [Ire]), whose biggest victory came last October at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy

(Eng-G1) going a mile.

O'Brien's entry also includes Irish Derby runner-up MIDAS TOUCH (Galileo

[Ire]), Epsom Derby second AT FIRST SIGHT (Galileo [Ire]), Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1)

second FENCING MASTER (Oratorio [Ire]) and JOSHUA TREE (Montjeu [Ire]) who was last seen winning the Royal Lodge

S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot in September.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained THEOLOGY (Galileo [Ire]) has emerged as a

live St Leger contender. Owned by the Touchstone syndicate of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing,

Theology won his maiden over 1 1/2 miles at Goodwood in May and

followed that with a fantastic effort to finish second in the Queen's

Vase S. (Eng-G3) going two miles at Royal Ascot in June, a mere nose behind the winner

Mikhail Glinka (Galileo [Ire]).

"Theology has come out of the Queen's Vase very well," revealed Harry

Herbert, manager director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. "It was a tough

race and agony for horse, jockey and everyone concerned that he just lost out by

a nostril. He is in good form now and Jeremy has been training him for Glorious

Goodwood next week, either to run in the (July 27) Gordon S. (Eng-G3) or the

(July 29) Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2).

"We want to have a good look at those Goodwood races before we decide which

one he runs in. We are hopeful that he will then continue to improve and the St Leger will certainly be a target.

"It was a huge step up from winning his maiden to his run at Ascot. He was an

inexperienced horse, a little bit immature mentally as well as physically, so

Jeremy and his team did a hell of a job to get him running so well in a very

good group race. The form of the Queen's Vase is working out well with

(fourth-placer) CORSICA (Cape Cross [Ire]) going on to win the Bahrain Trophy

(Eng-G3).

"As Theology's Ascot run shows, there is no question mark over his stamina

for

Doncaster. He stays well but I don't think he is short of speed either. When

(jockey)

William Buick asked him to improve and move through horses he did it very well,

so if he has improved again, which we hope he has, then he is a really exciting

prospect."

BUZZWORD (GB) (Pivotal) gave trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni his first Group 1 success

when winning the Deutsches Derby on Sunday, and the colt is one of 10

Godolphin entries split equally between his handler and fellow trainer Saeed bin

Suroor. Al Zarooni's quintet also includes Epsom Derby third REWILDING (Tiger

Hill), Irish Oaks runner-up MISS JEAN BRODIE (Maria's Mon) and Group 3

winner SIMON DE MONTFORT (King's Best).

Bin Suroor, who clinched a fifth St Leger success for Godolphin

last

year with Mastery (GB) (Sulamani [Ire]), has engaged Ribblesdale S. (Eng-G2) heroine

HIBAAYEB (Singspiel [Ire]), also successful in the Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1) last term, and

Racing Post Trophy third AL ZIR (Medaglia d'Oro).

Mark Johnston has entered King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) winner

MONTEROSSO (Dubawi) alongside Corsica, who saw off the William Haggas-trained

HARRIS TWEED (Hernando [Fr]) to win the Bahrain Trophy.

Sir Michael Stoute saddled his only St Leger winner in 2008 when

Conduit (Ire) prevailed and the Newmarket handler has one entry this year, TOTAL

COMMAND (Sadler's Wells). The Goodwood maiden winner appeared not to quite stay two

miles when third in the Queen's Vase last time.

MEEZNAH (Dynaformer), a close second to Snow Fairy at Epsom but unsuited by softer

going when fourth in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh, could line up for trainer

David

Lanigan, while the progressive James Given-trained DANDINO (Dansili [GB]), who

completed a four-timer in the King George V H. at Royal Ascot, and is

owned by the 20,000-strong Elite Racing Club, is another engaged.

John Gosden, successful with Shantou (1996) and Lucarno (2007), has entered

King Edward VII runner-up ARCTIC COSMOS (North Light [Ire]).

Others engaged include another Irish entry, the Dermot Weld-trained ADDRESS

UNKNOWN (Oasis Dream [GB]), as well as Chester Vase (Eng-G3) winner TED SPREAD

(Beat Hollow [GB]), whose trainer Mark Tompkins won the St Leger in 1993 with Bob's Return.

The St Leger is the feature race of the four-day Ladbrokes St Leger

Festival at Doncaster Racecourse scheduled for September 8-11.