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The £550,000 Group One Ladbrokes St Leger is a little over three weeks away and Thought Worthy laid down his credentials for the final Classic of the season, run over an extended mile and three-quarters at Doncaster on Saturday September 15, with a gutsy front-running success in the Group Two Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
The John Gosden-trained colt will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of his brother Lucarno, who did the double for the same connections in 2007, while Gosden himself will be seeking a third consecutive success after the victories of Masked Marvel last year and Arctic Cosmos in 2010.
The Newmarket handler's five entries also include Shantaram, who scored decisively by three and a quarter lengths on his latest start at Newmarket in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on July 12.
Unfortunately, the son of Galileo was forced to miss yesterday's Great Voltigeur Stakes due to mucus in his lungs, but is still a possible runner in the final Classic of the season.
Hugo Lascelles, racing manager to Shantaram's owner Lady Bamford, said: "The Ladbrokes St Leger is still on Shantaram's agenda. He had mucus on his lungs but it is clearing up now and we will follow him through to the declarations and see how we go.
"If he runs, he will go straight to Doncaster without a prep race like Masked Marvel did last year. It's probably not ideal but it will be discussed nearer the time as John (Gosden) obviously has a few others in there. If the trainer gives us the thumbs up, we will be keen to run.
"I thought he won very well at Newmarket but it wasn't a very strong race. He did it well enough but he is a big, big horse and he will be even better next year. We have always been minding him for next year and that will be very much in the back of our minds.
"The trip will be fine for him in the Ladbrokes St Leger - there is no doubt about that - but it will be very tough to bustle up Camelot. However, we have to make the race as competitive as possible for him and better ground will suit Shantaram, but we have to get there first."
Shantaram is a 10/1 chance with race sponsor Ladbrokes, while Thought Worthy is rated a 14/1 shot after his victory yesterday.
Camelot heads the market at 1/3 after a hat-trick of Group One triumphs this season in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Investec Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Aidan O'Brien's colt is bidding to become the first winner of the Triple Crown since Nijinsky in 1970.
More Ladbrokes St Leger clues could be revealed this weekend when the Curragh stages the Group Three Irish St Leger Trial over a mile and three quarters on Saturday. All eyes will be on John Oxx's Hartani, who is 16/1 with Ladbrokes for Classic glory after bolting up in the Group Three At The Races Curragh Cup on July 1.
The next scratchings deadline for the Ladbrokes St Leger is on Tuesday, August 28.
The Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster runs from Wednesday, September 12 through to Saturday, September 15. For more information go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
Latest odds for the Ladbrokes St Leger from Ladbrokes: Camelot 1/3, Great Heavens 8/1, Shantaram 10/1, Main Sequence 14/1, Thought Worthy 14/1, Michelangelo 16/1, Hartani 16/1, Noble Mission 20/1, Estimate 20/1, Encke 20/1, Swedish Sailor 33/1, Warwick Avenue 40/1, Astrology 50/1, Father Of Science 50/1, Athens 50/1, Call To Battle 50/1, Cameron Highland 50/1, Chamonix 50/1, David Livingston 50/1, Ernest Hemingway 50/1, Guarantee 50/1, Mandaean 50/1, Mariners Cross 50/1, Ursa Major 50/1, Light Heavy 50/1, Sparkling Portrait 66/1, Chicago 100/1 Ed De Gas 100/1, Minimise Risk 100/1, Salford Art 100/1, Big Johnny D 125/1, Offer 125/1, Dartford 200/1. Each-way bets 1/4 odds first 3
