Frankie Dettori eyes seventh St Leger title at Doncaster

The Pertemps-sponsored race at Doncaster clashes with Irish Champions Weekend, hence why Dettori’s services were secured by Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien who also has six St Legers to his name. They will be looking to replicate the success of Scorpion at Doncaster in 2006 when racing’s highest-profile jockey teamed up with the sport’s most dominant big race trainer.

Dettori’s most recent St Leger win came 12 months ago on Logician who made a winning comeback at Doncaster yesterday.

Santiago, who will be joined on Town Moor by Dawn Patrol and Mythical, is vying for St Leger favouritism with Pyledriver for trainer William Muir and his son-in-law Martin Dwyer, a Derby-winning jockey.

Meanwhile, Subjectivist will bid to give Middleham trainer Mark Johnston a first St Leger – it is perplexing that the man who has saddled more winners in Britain than anyone else has not won this race when his yard excels with staying horses.

Today’s highlight at the South Yorkshire track is the Doncaster Cup that Johnston won in 1998 with the talismanic Double Trigger. The champion stayer’s third win in the historic two-and-a- quarter mile race, Double Trigger remains the last Yorkshire-trained horse to win the contest.

Local hopes this year rest with David O’Meara’s Eagles By Day who won the John Smith’s Silver Cup at York for jockey Danny Tudhope and businessman Steve Parkin.

Their opponents include Ed Dunlop’s veteran globetrotter Red Verdon, the mount of the aforementioned Dettori, and Andrew Balding’s Spanish Mission who will be partnered by in-form William Buick.

Buick, a graduate of the nearby National Racing College, then flies to Ireland to partner Ghaiyyath – the world’s best racehorse on ratings – in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday night.

The Godolphin horse, trained by Charlie Appleby, has enjoyed high-profile successes this year in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket, Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse when he outfought the superstar mare Enable and then a career-high performance in last month’s Juddmonte International at York.

Ghaiyyath’s trip to Ireland had been up in the air until a change in quarantine regulations meant Buick could take the ride. Following a steady gallop yesterday morning, the colt’s participation was confirmed.

“He’s going to Leopardstown in as good a condition as we have ever had him.

“I’m as pleased with him as I was before the Juddmonte” said Appleby.”

Meanwhile, Cieren Fallon partners The Lir Jet for the first time in the Bombardier Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster today .

Michael Bell’s youngster claimed Royal Ascot glory in the Norfolk Stakes when racing resumed back in June, since when he has finished second in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville and 
the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Bell hopes he can get back on the winning trail in the five-furlong Group Two with Fallon replacing the suspended Oisin Murphy.

He added: “I’m a big fan of Cieren’s.

“He rode the Qatar Racing winner for us at Catterick earlier in the week (Twilight Heir).”