The last of the classics will be run at Doncaster on Saturday.
However we have two days of top racing leading up to the finale on Saturday. At present the track is racing good to fast but some rain is expected overnight and some showers today and Friday with Saturday fine.
Thursday is Ladies' Day and the two top races are for fillies. Both are G2. The May Hill is for 2yo fillies over 1200m and Inspiral is a 2/5 favourite here for the Gosdens and Frankie Dettori. She is by Frankel and current favourite for the 2022 1000 Guineas. Prosperous Voyage is a promising filly from Ralph Beckett's yard with Rob Hornby riding. She's by Zoffany and on 7/1. There are 7 starters.
The Park Hill is also for fillies but over the St Leger trip of 2921m. 9 of them will line up and it's another representative from the Gosdens' yard Free Wind is on 9/4. Frankie Dettori will ride this daughter of Galileo, and she won recently at Deauvillle without too many problems. Yes Yes is on 9/2 for Ralph Beckett and Ryan Moore rides her with Save a Forest who looks to be a genuine stayer on 5/1.
Friday's highlight is the Doncaster Cup and the clash between Stradivarius and Trueshan. The race is G2 over 3600m and here it looks to be Stradivarius's chance to claim the bragging rights over Trueshan. Stradivarius is on 4/6 and Trueshan 7/2. Of interest here is Rodrigo Diaz, as Australian Bloodstock have purchased a 50% share and he is entered for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He will need to get a good placing here to earn his trip south. Jamie Spencer keeps the ride for trainer David Simcock. There's only 7 runners so he has a chance to pick up a decent cheque.
The Flying Childers is G2 over 1000m and Amor heads the market in the 10 horse field, having won the Molecomb at Goodwood. He's on 7/4 for Richard Hannon and Ryan Moore will be on board. Corazon won at Prix d'Arenburg at Longchamp recently over this trip and she is value on 9/2 with William Buick riding for George Boughey. Attagirl is on 7/1 for Karl Burke and Dan Tudhope.
So on to Saturday. The St Leger is the oldest classic as well having been run for the first time in 1790. It's had a few interruptions and movements due to war and pestilence and such factors. It's part of the Triple Crown although very few horses who have won the first two legs go for the longer trip – 2921m. The first time the double of the Derby-St Leger was won it was by a horse called West Australian in 1853. Last year Covid lockdown hit and while there had been crowds at the Wednesday meeting there were empty stands for the rest of the meeting. However it was a lucky one for "Aussie" Tom Marquand when he got the ride on Galileo Chrome after the original jockey had tested positive to Covid, and got the win. Ron Hutchinson was an Aussie jockey who won the race in 1969 on Intermezzo and Kerrin McEvoy won on Rule Of Law in 2004.
This year's edition has an odds-on favourite in Hurricane Lane. He's already won the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris and has been top of the list for some time. William Buick rides the Godolphin runner for Charlie Appleby. High Definition has been supplemented for this and comes in on 7/1 with presumably Dettori riding for Aidan O'Brien although that is not showing so far. Mojo Star was second in the Derby and took a while to break his maiden but he has done that now and he should enjoy the step up in trip. He's on 13/2 with Richard Hannon booking Rossa Ryan for the ride.
Others which could break through include Sir Lucan on 9/1 and Ottoman Emperor on 5/1 – he won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood but when it comes down to the final analysis it is hard to see Hurricane Lane being beaten.
Before the St Leger there's the Champagne Stakes G2 over 1400m for 2yo c&g and a lot of excitement here surrounding Reach For The Stars, Her Majesty's colt by Sea The Starts. He's had two wins and two seconds in his four outings to date and everyone is hoping that this could be a Derby prospect for The Queen who celebrates her Platinum Anniversary on Derby day 2022! Lusail and Native Trail are two others to watch out for.
The Park Stakes G2 is over 1400m but more on that one on Saturday.
