St Leger hope Camelot winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos), BY JAMES BURN 4:17 PM 5 SEP 2012
THE Ladbrokes St Leger will be a massive test for odds-on favourite Camelot, who will become the first Triple Crown winner for more than 40 years if capturing the Doncaster Classic next week.
That is the view of the star three-year-old’s trainer Aidan O’Brien, who described the Montjeu colt as the “most incredible horse”.
Camelot, who followed up his 2,000 Guineas success by winning the Derby and Irish Derby, is 1-3 with the St Leger sponsors and he will bid to emulate the great Nijinsky, who landed the Triple Crown in 1970.
Speaking on At The Races, O’Brien said: “Everything’s gone well – so far so good – but it’s a very difficult test for a horse able to be dropped out in the Guineas over a mile on his first run of the season, to have that pace and then win the Derby.
“It’s a massive test and all we can do is turn up on the day and hopefully have him ready.
“He’s the most incredible horse we have had since we started and we’re so grateful and privileged to have him.”
Paddy Power on Wednesday trimmed Camelot to 4-11 (from 2-5) for the world’s oldest Classic.
The Irish firm also cut Thought Worthy to 7-1 (from 10) and his John Gosden-trained stablemate Michelangelo to 10-1 (from 14).
3:45 p.m. eng time, Doncaster, SAT 15 SEP 2012
| NO. DRAW | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-111 | Camelot77  |
3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | 124 | 134 | 142 | ||
| 61 | Chamonix59 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | — | 105 | 108 | ||
| 325375 | Dartford28 | 3 | 9-0 | John Gosden | 74 | 74 | 102 | ||
| 31-543 | David Livingston21 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | 112 | 103 | 129 | ||
| 21-123 | Encke24 | 3 | 9-0 | Mahmood Al Zarooni | 95 | 113 | 129 | ||
| 514 | Father Of Science76 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | — | 86 | 114 | ||
| 5-1111 | Great Heavens55 | 3 | 8-11 | John Gosden | 116 | 122 | 135 | ||
| 2111 | Guarantee21 | 3 | 9-0 | William Haggas | 95 | 123 | 125 | ||
| 1-181 | Imperial Monarch63 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | — | 120 | 132 | ||
| 11242 | Main Sequence24  |
3 | 9-0 | David Lanigan | 115 | 124 | 132 | ||
| 3113 | Michelangelo46 |
3 | 9-0 | John Gosden | 111 | 112 | 125 | ||
| 21538 | Offer68 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien | — | 92 | 119 | ||
| 2-2211 | Shantaram65 | 3 | 9-0 | John Gosden | 104 | 94 | 119 | ||
| 1-5115 | Thomas Chippendale24 | 3 | 9-0 | Sir Henry Cecil | 108 | 114 | 130 | ||
| 21431 | Thought Worthy24 | 3 | 9-0 | John Gosden | 106 | 112 | 133 | ||
| 212111 | Ursa Major21 | 3 | 9-0 | Thomas Carmody | — | 111 | 128 | ||
