Encke wins by Royal insistence to destroy Camelot’s Triple Crown dream and deny O’Brien Classic history

THE contrast in facial expressions and emotions could not have been greater. As Mickael Barzalona, 21, waved his whip after Encke pulled off one of the biggest shocks in Ladbrokes St Leger history, a crestfallen Joseph O’Brien looked to the turf in abject despair after Camelot’s Triple Crown dream came to an abrupt end at a stunned Doncaster.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Sep 2012, 09:11 BST

The surprise outcome, watched by a sell-out 32,000-crowd, saw the 25-1 victor greeted by virtual silence. Nineteen-year-old O’Brien was unable to hold back the tears following a controversial ride in which Camelot was boxed in at a crucial moment and then failed to produce the burst of speed which had carried him to 2000 Guineas and Derby glory.

As the jockey’s father Aidan, who was also denied the chance of becoming the first trainer in history to win all five English Classics in a single season, put a consoling arm around his tearful son and cited the absence of a pacemaker for the defeat of the 2-5 odds-on favourite, racing became divided on whether tactics or rider error was to blame – or whether Camelot had simply been beaten by the better horse on the day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

O’Brien’s despair was compounded by the disclosure of a pre-race disagreement between Encke’s trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and the horse’s owner Sheikh Mohammed, who heads the Godolphin racing operation, about whether the horse should contest the St Leger after finishing an underwhelming third at York last month.

“We have been trying to win this Classic. Two years ago we ran Rewilding and last year we ran Blue Bunting who were both favourites. (On Saturday) we have won it with an outsider. Racing can be a funny game,” said Al Zarooni, who confirmed that Encke is unlikely to run again this season.

“It was a brilliant ride from Mickael which is a sixth St Leger win for Godolphin. To be honest, it was His Highness’ decision to run here. I disagreed and thought we should not. He was right. His Highness and I always disagree but His Highness is always right.

“I thought Camelot would catch us as I remembered the way he quickened in the Guineas and in the Derby.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The drama was the culmination of the four-day St Leger festival which saw Doncaster MD Mark Spincer report a total crowd of 60,000 racegoers, up by 3,000 on 2011. While Camelot’s defeat disappointed those who had anticipated a first Triple Crown by a colt in 42 years, he said the resulting publicity had significantly helped the track, and race sponsor Ladbrokes, to rebuild the prestige of the world’s oldest Classic.

Related topics:Doncaster