Sam Turner guides you through day three of the St Leger festival.
1.50 Doncaster
The Goodwood Group 3 contested by Eternally and TOMYRIS (Best price 9-1), who both found French raider Al Jazi a length too strong, could hold the key to this event with the former likely to try and make a bold bid from the front. However, the presence of other front-runners like Pirouette may make it tough for Eternally to dominate and competition for the lead could leave her vulnerable to an old adversary who has more to offer back on soft ground. The selection was only beaten six lengths in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting and this level looks more in keeping with her ability. Her handler enjoyed significant success on day one and Tomyris could be a spot of value with conditions in her favour.
2.25 Doncaster
Providing a busy period hasn’t caught up with HAVANA GREY (Best price 13-8) then this Group 2 looks well within his capabilities. Trainer Karl Burke landed a welcome winner at Carlisle on Wednesday to end a quiet spell and his exciting colt posted another terrific display over six furlongs at Deauville last time. That trip would surely have robbed the grey son of Havana Gold of one of his main attributes which is the ability to travel at high velocity over the minimum trip while maintaining a relentless speed. He displayed those talents at Goodwood on his penultimate start in sweeping aside Invincible Army who has won since to enhance the form.
3.00 Doncaster
The decision to return TIME TO STUDY (Best price 7-2) to the track just a week after a tough battle in deep ground at Haydock isn’t without its risks, but trainer Mark Johnston knows his horses well and we can only presume the three-year-old has recovered from his north west exertions. If he is in the form which saw him run well at Haydock and previously at Ascot when emerging with great credit in the Queen’s Vase behind the St Leger-bound Stradivarius in a race which has worked out extremely well, then he must take a hand in this event. He is narrowly preferred to Byron Flyer who looks a major threat if the cheekpieces can extricate a little improvement.
3.35 Doncaster
Following a series of creditable efforts this season today could be the day that DESERT SKYLINE (Best price 9-2) finally gets his head in front at this level. Very soft ground would by a slight concern for fans of David Elsworth’s gelding who has been a shade unfortunate not to land a Group prize this term having chased home the likes of the afore-mentioned Stradivarius a couple of times this summer. The selection tackles a trip two furlongs further than he has ever been previously but his run style suggests he needs this type of examination even in the infancy of a career which has only see him run nine times. His latest effort in a Deauville Group 2 represented another career high on the figures and today’s jockey booking looks another positive.
