DONCASTER // Sir Michael Stoute finally brought to an end his hoodoo in the St Leger yesterday when he sent out Conduit, ridden by jockey Frankie Dettori, to win the final Classic of the British flat season at Doncaster. Stoute had run 25 horses in the St Leger prior to yesterday's event, including the great Shergar 27 years ago, all of which had been beaten.
It was a record that contrasted sharply with the sublime success of Dettori, who can now boast five wins in this contest from just 13 rides. There was more to this victory, however, than just the luck of the little Italian, because Conduit beat the biggest field in 26 years in emphatic style. Hindu Kush, one of five runners for trainer Aidan O'Brien, set a searing pace along with fellow no-hopers Maidstone Mixture and Warringah, also trained by Stoute.
Three furlongs out the pace began to tell as most of the field began to flag, but the two fillies, Oaks heroine Look Here and Unsung Heroine, looked to be going ominously well behind Conduit, who edged into the lead. It was all over inside the final two furlongs though, as Conduit powered further into the lead to beat Unsung Heroine by three lengths. "That worked out perfectly," said Dettori after the race. "They went off quick and I knew I was aboard a stayer. Two furlongs out it was all over. Finished."
Although O'Brien had little impact in the English St Leger - Hindu Kush did the best of his quintet in fifth - the Ballydoyle juggernaut continued to accumulate Group 1s yesterday when Septimus bagged his first victory at the top level in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh. The five-year-old's win completed a Classic Grand Slam for O'Brien in Ireland, adding to victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas with Henrythenavigator, 1,000 Guineas with Halfway To Heaven as well as wins in the Irish Derby with Frozen Fire and Oaks with Moonstone.
It was the first time all five Irish Classics had been won in the same season since Jack Rogers achieved the feat in 1935. @Email:griddle@thenational.ae
