3 minute read

The four day Doncaster St Leger Festival produced some interesting results.

Thursday saw the consecration of Desert Flower as a serious contender for the 3yo classics next year as she won the May Hill again impressively beating January by 1 12 lengths in the May Hill.  The Park Hill saw Nakheel emerge as a serious staying prospect as he won the Park Hill over 2900m.

On Friday our pick Aesterius emerged as a possible candidate for either the Abbaye or the Breeders' Cup after picking up the Flying Childers in fine style.  And the Howard Wright Doncaster Cup saw Sweet William salute over the amazing Trueshan who was back for another year!

Saturday's Champagne Stakes started with a bit of a sensation as favourite Chancellor broke through the gates and although he didn't go very far and still had the jockey on board he was scratched "under Rule 4".  Other jurisdictions the horse would have been vetted to see if he was OK to race but it seems Rule 4 rules this out.  The win went to Bay City Roller.  The Park Stakes saw our beloved Kinross add another G2 to his CV after he got the better of Lead Artist in a great battle with the margin being a neck and then a nose back to Sunway in third.

The St Leger saw the O'Brien runners Jan Brueghel and Illinois finish in that order and Grosvenor Square who had led for a while finish back in fifth as he ran out of steam.  Not a classic Classic but the winner is relatively fresh on the scene and could have a future.