Betfred St Leger: Arrest set for Doncaster Classic bid after Newbury success
Arrest could only finish 10th in the Derby before another disappointing run at Royal Ascot; he has since bounced back with victory at Newbury and will now head to Doncaster for the St Leger, live on Sky Sports Racing
Sunday 27 August 2023 13:10, UK
Arrest is likely to be Juddmonte's Betfred St Leger hope after his Newbury success left him on track for the Doncaster Classic.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Frankel colt won the Chester Vase by a good margin in May when the race was run on soft ground, but could finish only 10th in the Derby at Epsom and fifth in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot.
Both of those runs were on good-to-firm ground and on good-to-soft at Newbury. He looked more at ease when winning the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes by a length and a half in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
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The Leger is now on the agenda, but he will require a reasonable amount of give in the ground if he is to run.
"He's obviously won his trial well and we know he likes a bit of ease in the ground," said Barry Mahon of Juddmonte.
"I think as long as there's that ease in the ground, the owners have said they'd like to go the Leger route, so that's the way we'll go."
Juddmonte seem to have another promising horse on their hands in Macduff, a comfortable winner on debut at Newmarket earlier in the month.
The Sea The Stars colt beat a field of well-bred horses and has a notable pedigree himself as he is out of a mare named Present Tense, a half-sister to the great Kingman.
Connections were pleased with his maiden success but there will be little pressure put on him as he is expected to blossom as a three-year-old.
"It was a lovely debut, he's a nice horse," Mahon said. "He's a big horse, he won't have a lot of racing this year. Ralph is taking his time and we'll probably see how he is in the middle of September and pick another race.
"He's from a good family, his mother is a sister to Kingman. He's a nice horse that's just full of potential. Next year is going to be his year and I'd imagine that we won't over-race him this year."
