Tag Archive for: St Leger Festival

Indigo Girl too good for May Hill rivals

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Indigo Girl defied a slow start and signs of greenness to triumph in the bet365 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

John Gosden’s filly had won her only previous start at Yarmouth and was sent off a 100-30 chance in what looked a strong Group Two.

The Clarehaven handler was winning the race for a fifth time, having last prevailed with Rainbow View in 2008 in the same George Strawbridge silks.

A sister to the Group One winner Journey, Indigo Girl broke awkwardly from the stalls which meant she was at the back of the field early.

However, she made eyecatching progress up the stands side with three furlongs to run and was soon challenging Dubai Fountain for the lead.

Her lack of experience told as she then jinked to her left, while favourite Zabeel Queen on the far side was also running off a straight line.

However, once Frankie Dettori was able to get her straightened up to a certain degree, the daughter of Dubawi went on to win by three-quarters of a length from Dubai Fountain, with Zabeel Queen a length away in third.

It was a quick double for Gosden and Dettori after Logician’s stroll earlier on the card and the winner was introduced into the 1000 Guineas betting at 14-1 by Paddy Power.

Gosden said: “She did it very smoothly at Yarmouth and she’s been in great form since. The race didn’t knock her back a bit – it was rather like a piece of work.

“If we’d gone for another novice race, she would have had to lump a lot of weight and I don’t like doing that with two-year-olds. You can end up giving 7lb to a Group horse and you don’t know it.

“The May Hill is a beautiful race over the straight mile. The track is in beautiful nick and I thought we’d bring her here and see if we could nick a bit of black type.

“She relaxed beautifully, which is key, and smoothly came through. I admit when she hit the front she ran around, but that’s the trainer’s fault because when I work them at home, I don’t like them bursting clear and breaking another one’s heart.

“She’s obviously got a lot of talent. As long as she continues to enjoy her racing,she can move upward.”

Considering future targets, the trainer added: “There are two options this year – the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Fillies’ Mile. We could look at either of those or wait until next year, we’ll just have to see at this stage.

“Her mother (Montare) won a Prix Royal-Oak and her full-sister (Journey) won the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot over a mile and a half. Funnily enough, I see this one as more of a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter filly.

“She travels strong and has a great turn of foot.”

Indigo Girl won despite showing wayward tendencies
Indigo Girl won despite showing wayward tendencies (David Davies/PA)

Dettori said: “I rode Journey (her sister) and she’s the same type – not over-big, but she’s got loads of gears. It’s my first time on her.

“She travelled smoothly, quickened well, ran a bit green and went left and right, but it’s only her second start so you can excuse her for that.

“She’s from a talented family. Everything is in the right place and I really like her.

“She seems easier to handle than her siblings. She’s got a good future and is two from two and a Group Two (winner). Fingers crossed she can go all the way.”

Logician makes victorious return at Doncaster

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Last year’s St Leger winner Logician maintained his unbeaten record with a facile victory on his eagerly-awaited return in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Conditions Stakes at Doncaster.

Facing only one rival in Charlie Appleby’s Mythical Magic, Logician was sent off a 1-12 shot and the manner of his win reflected that price.

A sick horse over the winter, he was back on track almost a year to the day since his Classic success on Town Moor, but he was racing over half a mile less.

Frankie Dettori bounced him out of the stalls and John Gosden’s grey was keen enough early, but he was not going fast enough for Mythical Magic, who took over briefly turning into the straight.

Once Dettori asked Logician to quicken, his sole rival could not go with him and he was ridden out with just hands and heels for a comfortable seven-length win.

Gosden said: “We’re very happy. He came here very composed and I always think in a race like that, go and set your own pace.

“William’s (Buick) horse (Mythical Magic) was keen in behind, so as soon as they got to the top of this long straight, he came and joined us. It was a nice, proper stretch – he’s finished very well and comfortable under hands and heels.

John Gosden gives Logician a pat after his comeback win
John Gosden gives Logician a pat after his comeback win (David Davies/PA)

“He’s having what I call a nice blow, not a stressful blow. You’ve got to remember this horse had two months in intensive care and I can have nothing but praise for the veterinarians at the Newmarket Equine Clinic for saving his life twice, so that he can be here today.

“We’re very pleased to see him back – it’s been a long road.”

As for the future, Gosden said: “There’ll be no immediate plans. He’s well entered in the autumn, but I’d like to see how he is in the next 10 days before even thinking about another race.

“If you’d seen him in the clinic, as I did – I thought I’d never see him again. Just to get him back here is extraordinary in itself.

“We couldn’t be more pleased at this stage, but I don’t want to commit to anything now.

“Anything is possible. We’re on the cusp of the autumn if we want to run again this year, but the horse will tell us.

“I think having missed most of this year, next season for a big, strapping horse like him, as a five-year-old, is very much a key option. I think one might have one’s mind focused on that, as much as anything else.

“We know a mile and a half is spot-on for him, so next year he’ll have races like the King George as an absolute target.”

Dettori told Sky Sports Racing: “It was a good effort by the team. I have hardly seen him this year, obviously. It’s well documented he’s been sick.

“I rode him the other morning. He didn’t give me the feel he gave me in the Leger, but he came to the races today, he went through the gears, he was moving well. OK it was a non-event, but at least we got him back.

“He’s a long way from where he was, but hopefully this race will bring him on and we’ve got him for next year, I hope.”

Line Of Departure completed a hat-trick for Roger Varian in the Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2-Y-O Stakes.

After the colt failed to get his head in front in his first three starts, his Newmarket handler decided to dispose of the blinkers – and it seems to have done the trick, with Line Of Departure opening his account at Yarmouth before following up at Ascot last month.

A 15-2 shot for his latest assignment, the son of Mehmas responded to David Egan’s urgings to score by a length and a quarter from 7-2 joint-favourite Yazaman.

Varian said: “He’s done nothing but improve. I ran him in his first three starts in blinkers, because he didn’t show anything at home.

“I don’t know where the ceiling is with this horse – he gets better and better.”

Spright (left) claimed victory at Doncaster
Spright (left) claimed victory at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

The Karl Burke-trained Spright (10-1) secured her third win from five career starts under a well-judged ride from Clifford Lee in the British Stallion Studs EBF “Carrie Red” Fillies’ Nursery.

Burke said: “I thought she was well handicapped and I twisted the arms of the owners, including David Redvers, to let her run.

“David definitely wanted to go for a Listed race to try to get some black type and make her more sellable, but it would have broken my heart to leave a £50,000 race behind without having a runner in it.

“We’ll definitely give her a shot at black type now. She’s in the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy (October 3), and there’s also the Bosra Sham at Newmarket at the end of October.”

Pyledriver tops St Leger dozen

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Pyledriver is among a field of 12 for the Pertemps St Leger at Doncaster.

William Muir’s stable star will try to complete his fairytale rise on Saturday, after victories in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Great Voltigeur at York.

The Lambourn trainer’s ace will face the might of Ballydoyle, with Aidan O’Brien three-handed as he aims to win the Leger for a seventh time. Irish Derby hero Santiago heads his team, completed by Dawn Patrol and Mythical.

Joseph O’Brien’s Galileo Chrome and Sunchart, trained by Andy Slattery, are the other Irish-based runners.

Ed Walker has declared English King, but the Lingfield Derby Trial victor is more likely to go to France for Sunday’s Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp.

Walker told Sky Sports Racing: “We’ve declared for the St Leger – but the plan for a long time has been to head to France, and we’re still very much leaning that way.

“We’re just very concerned about travel arrangements and the changing world of Covid. With numbers increasing here, the last thing in the world we want is for France to slap a two-week quarantine on people coming from England to France and then we can’t go – so we’re just covering all angles.

“We have to decide finally by 8.30am tomorrow, so it basically gives us an extra day to see how the water lies. If everything is equal we’ll be going to Paris on Sunday.

“Tom (Marquand) is booked to ride in the Leger, because I told Frankie (Dettori) a few weeks ago we were very unlikely to run in the Leger – and as far as I understand, Frankie is riding Santiago.

“Frankie is already (set to be) in France to ride Stradivarius, so I think we’ve got everything covered. It’s a huge day for Bjorn (Nielsen, owner) with Stradivarius back over a mile and a half in the Prix Foy on his way to the Arc.

“I think English King is as good as I’ve had him all year, to be honest. I know he’s got doubters now but I’m not one and I’m hoping this weekend he’ll prove them all wrong.”

Hukum (left) was a decisive winner of Newbury's Geoffrey Freer Stakes
Hukum (left) was a decisive winner of Newbury’s Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Hukum, winner of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, will bid to give his trainer Owen Burrows a first Classic triumph at Doncaster.

Berkshire Rocco, Mohican Heights, Subjectivist and Tyson Fury complete the dozen hopefuls.

The three withdrawals at the 48-hour final declaration stage were Max Vega, Tiger Moth and Believe In Love – due to run in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday afternoon.

Chindit is set to put his unbeaten record on the line at Doncaster
Chindit is set to put his unbeaten record on the line at Doncaster (Bill Selwyn/PA)

Richard Hannon’s unbeaten colt Chindit faces six opponents in the Group Two bet365 Champagne Stakes.

Among the Ascot Listed race winner’s rivals are the experienced pair of Broxi and Devious Company, as well as Owen Burrows’ Albasheer and Irish raider State Of Rest.

Two past winners of the Prix de la Foret – Limato and One Master – are among eight runners in the Group Two bet365 Park Stakes.

Wichita, runner-up in the 2000 Guineas, and Jersey Stakes scorer Molatham represent the Classic generation.

Disappointment for Doncaster as Leger crowd trial is cut short

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Doncaster officials were left counting the cost on Wednesday as the return of crowds came to an abrupt halt following day one of the St Leger meeting – although pilot events planned for Warwick and Newmarket later this month are set to go ahead.

Following the last-minute cancellation of a trial for 5,000 people at Goodwood last month, hopes were high the Town Moor venue could successfully stage the four-day Leger fixture with limited racegoers as part of Government hopes to reintroduce spectators, with an estimated 2,500 on course for the first afternoon.

But much like with Goodwood, a revision to Government advice late on Tuesday evening threw the event into doubt, with numbers of people permitted to gather socially being reduced to a maximum of six from Monday.

That change of policy combined with concerns over a rising Covid-19 infection rate in Doncaster prompted the local authority to instruct Arena Racing Company, which operates the track, to go back behind closed doors at the conclusion of the opening afternoon.

Mark Spincer was disappointed to see the trial curtailed
Mark Spincer was disappointed to see the trial curtailed (David Davies/PA)

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, estimates losses of £250,000 for the company – but believes the cost could be much higher in terms of getting sport back on track.

He said: “The feeling is obviously one of disappointment, particularly for the team who have worked so hard, and the customers.

“Talking to the crowd that are here today, they feel so comfortable and safe with all the protocols we’ve put in place and they are all adhering to the code of conduct. It worked nicely.

“The decision has been taken by Public Health, it’s 100 per cent out of our hands.”

He went on: “We were sold out on Saturday – about 5,000 (tickets) – which was less than we originally said, but we would have been comfortable with that.

“As for an exact figure this has cost, we don’t know exactly, but we’re probably £250,000 out of pocket with the crowds for three days being removed. That will be made up of infrastructure, staff, food and alcohol, barriers, signage. It’s cost a lot trying to get this right.

“We’ve been working on this for months – there’s been a working group that included the Jockey Club and some independent tracks as well. The team have done an amazing job and I feel so sorry for them – some have only been back off furlough for two weeks.

“This isn’t just a blow for racing, it’s sport. It’s going to make it slower and harder for everyone to get back, but we have to follow the advice.”

Limited amounts of racegoers attending the first day at Doncaster
Limited amounts of racegoers attending the first day at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

But in something of a boost for the sport after the Doncaster news, it was confirmed by the Government on Wednesday evening the pilots at Warwick on September 21 and Newmarket’s three-day Cambridgeshire meeting, which is scheduled for September 24-26, remain on its agenda.

However, there will be crowd limits of 1,000 for a number of listed sporting pilots, including Warwick and Newmarket, “in light of the increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases”, while such events will be “subject to locations not having local prevalence concerns”.

Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “We know fans and audiences are eager to return, and jobs depend on this too, so work continues around the clock on the moonshot project with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas, if safe to do so.”

The Racecourse Association has been key in liaising with Government on the return of racegoers and while it accepts the decision of Doncaster council, it also underlined “the decision to cancel is not a consequence of any concerns about the measures taken by Doncaster or the racing industry’s plans to allow the public to return”.

RCA chief executive David Armstrong said: “The RCA and all in racing will be very disappointed by today’s developments. We all know how important these pilots are to securing the return of crowds.

“The racecourse teams and the RCA have put in many hours of detailed work and planning to ensure the protocols are comprehensive and robust. As the second biggest spectator sport in the country, we pride ourselves on the quality of our sport and the entertainment it brings to so many.

“The health of the public and our own staff and participants is paramount, but the economic and financial pressure on the industry has already cost jobs and more will follow.”

A further crowd pilot event is planned for Newmarket later in the month
A further crowd pilot event is planned for Newmarket later in the month (Nigel French/PA)

Speaking of the experience of the day at Doncaster, one annual member told Sky Sports Racing: “We’ve been really looking forward to coming to the St Leger (Festival). It’s a great meeting and the racecourse has put a lot into getting these four days open.

“We’re really pleased that we’ve got a great event – it’s fantastic.

“We’re really disappointed that it’s not going to go ahead from tomorrow. We’re perfectly safe – we’re outside, everyone is following the guidelines, we’ve got masks and everything.

“They’ve done everything they could possibly do. It’s just as safe as being in a local pub, if not more so, because of everything that the racecourse has done.

“It’s relaxed and spread out. We couldn’t have asked any more.”

Disappointment for Doncaster as remainder of Leger meeting goes behind closed doors

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Doncaster’s planned four-day pilot scheme for the return of crowds came to an abrupt halt before the first race was even run on Wednesday, in what was described as not just a blow for racing, but sport in general.

Following the last-minute cancellation of a planned trial for 5,000 people at Goodwood last month, hopes were high the Town Moor venue could successfully stage the St Leger meeting with limited racegoers as part of a Government plan to reintroduce spectators, with an estimated 2,500 on course for the first afternoon.

However, much like with Goodwood, a revision to Government advice late on Tuesday evening threw the event into doubt, with numbers of people permitted to gather socially being reduced to a maximum of six from Monday.

That change of policy combined with concerns over a rising Covid-19 infection rate in Doncaster prompted the local authority to instruct Arena Racing Company, which operates the track, to go back behind closed doors at the conclusion of Wednesday’s action.

Mark Spincer was disappointed to see the trial curtailed
Mark Spincer was disappointed to see the trial curtailed (David Davies/PA)

Dr Robert Sucking, director of public health for Doncaster, said in a statement: “The current rate of infection for the borough currently stands at 10.6 infections per 100,000 people which I have been updated on today and this is an increase due to a range of factors including an increase in testing and a lag in the test results coming in.

“Therefore on the grounds of public health and public safety, I have instructed the racecourse to hold the St Leger Festival behind closed doors from tomorrow.

“The day’s racing will continue today as it is safer to manage racegoers on site and with enhanced test and trace, it will be easier to identify where they are from rather than closing the event today and leaving people to their own devices in Doncaster and the borough generally.

“I appreciate this decision may not be met with universal agreement but it is the safest and most appropriate way to move forward for everyone’s best interests in the borough and beyond.”

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, estimates losses of £250,000 for the company – but believes the cost could be much higher in terms of getting sport back on track.

He said: “The feeling is obviously one of disappointment, particularly for the team who have worked so hard, and the customers.

“Talking to the crowd that are here today, they feel so comfortable and safe with all the protocols we’ve put in place and they are all adhering to the code of conduct. It worked nicely.

“The decision has been taken by Public Health, it’s 100 per cent out of our hands.”

He went on: “We were sold out on Saturday – about 5,000 (tickets) – which was less than we originally said, but we would have been comfortable with that.

“As for an exact figure this has cost, we don’t know exactly, but we’re probably £250,000 out of pocket with the crowds for three days being removed. That will be made up of infrastructure, staff, food and alcohol, barriers, signage. It’s cost a lot trying to get this right.

“We’ve been working on this for months – there’s been a working group that included the Jockey Club and some independent tracks as well. The team have done an amazing job and I feel so sorry for them – some have only been back off furlough for two weeks.

“This isn’t just a blow for racing, it’s sport. It’s going to make it slower and harder for everyone to get back, but we have to follow the advice.”

Limited amounts of racegoers attending the first day at Doncaster
Limited amounts of racegoers attending the first day at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

The Racecourse Association has been key in liaising with Government on the return of racegoers and while it accepts the decision of Doncaster council, it also underlined “the decision to cancel is not a consequence of any concerns about the measures taken by Doncaster or the racing industry’s plans to allow the public to return”.

Further pilot events are planned at Warwick and Newmarket later this month and the RCA will engage with “public health authorities nationally and with DCMS to establish what the next steps will be” for those dates and also on how it will bring back the public more broadly.

The RCA also warned that a significant delay to the return of spectators would be “a hammer-blow for racecourses and the racing industry” as more than half of racecourses’ incomes is generated by racegoers.

RCA chief executive David Armstrong added: “The RCA and all in racing will be very disappointed by today’s developments. We all know how important these pilots are to securing the return of crowds.

“The racecourse teams and the RCA have put in many hours of detailed work and planning to ensure the protocols are comprehensive and robust. As the second biggest spectator sport in the country, we pride ourselves on the quality of our sport and the entertainment it brings to so many.

“The health of the public and our own staff and participants is paramount, but the economic and financial pressure on the industry has already cost jobs and more will follow.”

Speaking of the experience of the day at Doncaster, one annual member told Sky Sport Racing: “We’ve been really looking forward to coming to the St Leger (Festival). It’s a great meeting and the racecourse has put a lot into getting these four days open.

“We’re really pleased that we’ve got a great event – it’s fantastic.

“We’re really disappointed that it’s not going to go ahead from tomorrow. We’re perfectly safe – we’re outside, everyone is following the guidelines, we’ve got masks and everything.

“They’ve done everything they could possibly do. It’s just as safe as being in a local pub, if not more so, because of everything that the racecourse has done.

“It’s relaxed and spread out. We couldn’t have asked any more.”

A further crowd pilot event is planned for Newmarket later in the month
A further crowd pilot event is planned for Newmarket later in the month (Nigel French/PA)

Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, posted a statement on Twitter following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s afternoon press conference, maintaining the Government were continuing to “plan for the best.”

Dowden said: “Further to the PM’s announcement we are reviewing the list of proposed sports pilots ahead of 1 Oct, in light of the increased number of cases. Details of changes will be announced shortly.

“We are keeping under review further easements proposed from 1 Oct but no changes have been announced today – and we continue to plan for the best.”

Flying Frankie bags first Sceptre winner with Foxtrot Lady

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Frankie Dettori performed his trademark flying dismount for the spectators in attendance following victory aboard Foxtrot Lady in the bet365 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster.

Andrew Balding’s mare was an 18-1 shot for the Group Three feature on the opening afternoon of the St Leger Festival.

However, sporting the colours of the great sprinting mare Lochsong, who he steered to multiple Group One wins in the early 1990s, the popular Italian once again weaved his magic in the saddle.

After being settled in behind rivals for much of the seven-furlong contest, Foxtrot Lady was produced with a well-timed challenge against the stands rail and proved a length and a quarter too strong for 7-2 favourite Althiqa, with Bounce The Blues a close-up third.

Dettori, who was winning the race for the first time, said: “Andrew booked me late and I didn’t know what to expect. It looked a wide-open event.

“I was lucky I had Andrea (Atzeni, on Cloak Of Spirits) next to me – he took the wind for me.

“There’s a bit of a headwind and I filled her with confidence and sat and had one run at it and she picked up – it’s as simple as that.”

A crowd of around 2,500 people were on Town Moor to witness Dettori’s victory – the first day of racing in front of a paying crowd in Britain since mid-March as part of a pilot event that was due to take place for the four days of the meeting.

That number was due to rise to around 6,000 for the Pertemps St Leger on Saturday, but it was announced on Wednesday afternoon racing will go back behind closed doors for the rest of the week.

“I didn’t really notice any difference with the crowd today as this place swallows 5,000 people,” Dettori added.

“It’s a shame that we have to go back again, but we have to keep people safe.

“You have to do what is safe for everyone, we all know the rules until we get this corona sorted.

“Let’s hope we come back to normal soon.”

Goddess Of Fire lands 33-1 surprise in Leger Legends

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Darragh Keenan steered Goddess Of Fire to a surprise victory in the Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster.

The one-mile contest is usually confined to retired jockeys, with such stars of the sport as Julie Krone, Mick Kinane, Sir Anthony McCoy and Joseph O’Brien among those on the roll of honour.

However, this year’s renewal was confined to professionals only, due to Covid-19 restrictions, with Frankie Dettori among those keen to support a contest that has raised more than £1.1million for Jack Berry House and the Northern Racing college since its inception in 2010.

Despite having been placed on his last couple of appearances at Beverley and Wolverhampton last month, the John Ryan-trained Goddess Of Fire was a 33-1 shot under her apprentice rider.

However, the daughter of Toronado defied her odds with a strong finishing effort to score by just under two lengths from Defence Treaty and Tony Hamilton, with The Throstles third in the hands of Ray Dawson.

Irish-born Keenan was unseated from Goddess Of Fire on his return to the winner’s enclosure, and said: “She just spooked at the camera. She can be a bit tricky, even at home. I ride her out every day, so I know her well. I like the filly and I won’t hold it against her!

“It’s been a while since I had a winner – I’ve had plenty of rides, but the winners have been dry enough. You just have to keep trying.

“I’ve been in Britain for just over four years. I work for John Ryan and I’m in there every morning. I ride out for as many people as I can, if they want me.

“I do my best to work as hard as I can and hopefully the results will come in the end and the winners will come more often.”

Queen sights set on May Hill crown

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Zabeel Queen bids to confirm the excellent impression of her Ascot debut when stepping up in class for the bet365 May Hill Stakes.

Roger Varian’s well-related Frankel filly displayed a smart change of gear to put some more experienced rivals in their place on her racecourse introduction in late July – and the form has been well advertised since by a couple of those that finished behind.

Zabeel Queen faces a significant step up in class for the first of two Group Two events at Doncaster on Thursday, but jockey Andrea Atzeni is hopeful she will prove up to the task.

“She’s a nice filly who won a novice race at Ascot over seven furlongs quite impressively. We were hopeful going to Ascot, but you never really know when you’re taking on horses with more experience,” said the Italian rider.

“She was a bit green, but she did it well and Charlie Appleby’s two fillies who finished behind her (Renaissance Rose, fourth and Creative Flair, sixth) have both won since, I believe.

“Stepping up to a mile on a flat track like Doncaster shouldn’t be a problem.

“It is a step up in grade, but she’s entitled to be there and I’m looking forward to it.”

Zabeel Queen is the likely favourite among nine juvenile fillies declared.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with Yarmouth winner Indigo Girl, while William Haggas saddles Lilac Road – a winner over the May Hill course and distance on her second start, having finished fifth first time out at Newmarket.

“She won very well at Doncaster and I think she’s fully entitled to have a crack at it,” said Haggas.

“It looks a strong-ish renewal, but our filly is going the right way and I hope she’ll run well.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Irish challenger Ubuntu, the Kevin Ryan-trained Star Of Emaraaty and Mark Johnston’s course scorer Dubai Fountain are also in the mix.

Alpinista is a leading contender for the Park Hill Stakes
Alpinista is a leading contender for the Park Hill Stakes (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

The Varian-Atzeni axis is represented in the Group Two bet365 Park Hill Stakes by Believe In Love, who is three from three on turf this summer – completing her hat-trick with a 10-length demolition job at Newmarket last month.

Atzeni said: “She’s a very progressive filly who has won her last three races.

“It’s a big step up from a handicap to a Group Two. We don’t really know how good Believe In Love is as she’s improving all the time.”

The likely favourite was Alpinista, but she was a significant late withdrawal after scoping badly.

Monica Sheriff has won five of her seven starts for Haggas and was far from disgraced in finishing fourth in the Ebor at York last time.

“She came out of the Ebor well and I’m very happy with her going into the race,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I just wouldn’t want to see the ground dry out too much, but she’s very well.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Pista and Aidan O’Brien’s Snow are also part of an eight-strong field.

Yazaman (yellow) chases home Tactical at Newmarket
Yazaman (yellow) chases home Tactical at Newmarket (Francesca Altoft/PA)

There is a huge prize fund up for grabs in the Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2-Y-O Stakes.

The standard is set by the Haggas-trained Yazaman, who has finished second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, the July Stakes at Newmarket and the Richmond at Goodwood this summer, but could only place sixth in the Gimcrack at York on his latest outing.

Haggas said: “He was very disappointing in the Gimcrack and we’re changing the headgear from blinkers to a visor.

“He’s got the talent to win.”

All eyes on Logician in eagerly-awaited Doncaster comeback

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Logician is the undoubted star of the show on day two of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster, when he makes his first competitive appearance since winning the world’s oldest Classic 12 months ago.

The John Gosden-trained grey is unbeaten in five starts in all, but has been sidelined for much of the season after he suffered a life-threatening infection during the winter.

With Zaaki declared a non-runner after suffering with a bruised foot, the Khalid Abdullah-owned Logician faces a solitary rival in Mythical Magic in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Conditions Stakes over a mile and a quarter – four and half furlongs shorter than the Leger.

Abdullah’s racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said of Frankie Dettori’s mount: “It truly is good to see him back. It has been well documented he did have a serious illness, peritonitis, over the winter, so we are going slightly into the unknown with him.

“All the indications have been positive in terms of his well-being. His work has been progressive. He’s never been a fancy worker, so it’s always hard to tell what level he’s at, but John is happy enough with him, certainly.

“Of course, he’s going back to Doncaster which obviously was the scene of his most important triumph, albeit over a lesser distance.

“There’s only one other horse left in the race now. Hopefully it will be an important stepping stone.”

He added: “I think the most important thing is to get him back on track. There are all sorts of scenarios afterwards so there’s not much point in saying this or that.

“It’s a triumph in itself getting him back on track and in good form.

“Hopefully whatever he does, he will come on significantly for the race.”

Generation triumphs as racegoers make brief return at Doncaster

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Latest Generation won the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Doncaster – the first race run in front of a paying crowd in Britain in almost six months.

Racing went behind closed doors from March 16 due to the outbreak of coronavirus – and just two days later the sport was cancelled entirely, ultimately not restarting until June 1.

Participation was initially restricted to essential staff – and while owners were allowed to return from July 4, hopes to stage a pilot event in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Goodwood on August 1 were scrapped at the 11th hour following a change to Government regulations.

Racegoers place bets at Doncaster
Racegoers place bets at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

It has taken another six weeks for a renewed pilot to test out the return of spectators – and an estimated crowd of 2,500 spectators was expected on Town Moor for the opening afternoon of the St Leger Festival.

That figure was due to rise to around 6,000 for the Pertemps St Leger on Saturday.

However, it was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon racing will go back behind closed doors for the rest of the meeting after Doncaster Council called a halt to the pilot in light of an imminent change in Government policy, which restricts social gatherings to six from a maximum of 30 people.

Having finished a promising third on his racecourse debut at Sandown last month, Latest Generation was the 8-11 for the curtain-raiser under William Buick and was prominent from the off.

Newcomer Stay Well came with a late run and shaped with plenty of promise, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s market leader always had matters in hand and passed the post a length and a half to the good.

Buick said: “He was in front, but we went fractions to suit him, so I’m not sure how hard it was for him.

“At the end of the day he’d only had one run and was in front a long way there, but he’s done it well.

“He’ll be a nice horse for next year. I don’t think you could ask any more from him.”

Tarboosh (centre) on his way to winning at Doncaster
Tarboosh (centre) on his way to winning at Doncaster (David Davies/PA)

The Paul Midgley-trained Tarboosh claimed Listed honours with victory in the bet365 Scarbrough Stakes.

Ridden by Kevin Stott, the 8-1 shot finished with a flourish to get the better of Johnny Murtagh’s Irish challenger Urban Beat and Frankie Dettori by a length and a quarter, with 5-2 favourite Dakota Gold a neck further back in third.

Midgley said: “He was good today and when he’s good, he’s very good. He ran a good race at York, I’m just not sure what happened at Beverley last time – it just didn’t happen. We started to think he could be better on flat tracks.

“There’s a Group Three for him at Newbury on Ayr Gold Cup day and that is highly likely, I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to win a Listed race with him.

“He deserves a chance at a big one. I didn’t put him in the Abbaye with all the travel problems, but we said if we were lucky enough we could always supplement him, so that is an an option.”

The Yorkshire-based trainer admitted to being disappointed on hearing the news there will be no crowds on track for the rest of the week.

He added: “It all seemed really good, having a few people back in and for the first few races we had a little bit of atmosphere back, which was excellent.

“To hear they won’t be back tomorrow is a shame. It’s trying times for everyone I’m afraid, we’ve got to just do what is right and do the best we can.”

There was a thrilling climax to the bet365 Nursery Handicap, with Terry Kent’s recent York scorer Ataser justifying 100-30 favouritism under Ray Dawson with a head verdict over Party Game.

Jedd O’Keeffe ran two in the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap and it was bottom-weight Strait Of Hormuz under Andrea Atzeni who came out on top.

Strait Of Hormuz swoops late under Andrea Atzeni
Strait Of Hormuz swoops late under Andrea Atzeni (David Davies/PA)

“He’s doing really and what is crucial to him is a strong pace, you’ll see the best of him when he gets it,” said O’Keeffe.

“He wouldn’t get in the Cambridgeshire this year so we might have to give it some serious thought for next year.”

He added on the crowd situation: “I feel really sorry for Doncaster when you look around and see the effort that has been made with the marquees on both sides of the track. I’m sure lots of people have made a huge amount of effort, not just the racecourse itself, but we’ve got to protect the people.”

The closing Parkes Bros Roofing Contractors Handicap went to Sound Of Iona who beat her Jim Goldie-trained stablemate Primo’s Comet.